Semantics

SemanticsSemantics

Semantic featuresSemantic features

A Seminar to be presented by:A Seminar to be presented by:

Hawzheen RahmanHawzheen Rahman&&

Kawa QadirKawa Qadir

Semantic FeaturesSemantic Features

General IssuesGeneral Issues

1.1. Componential AnalysisComponential Analysis2.2. Lexical RelationsLexical Relations

Semantic FeaturesSemantic FeaturesAA semantic featuresemantic feature is a notational method is a notational method

which can be used to express the which can be used to express the existence or non-existence of pre-existence or non-existence of pre-established established semantic propertiessemantic properties by using by using plus and minus signs [+ / -].plus and minus signs [+ / -].

Semantic propertiesSemantic properties are those aspects of are those aspects of a linguistic unit, such as a a linguistic unit, such as a morpheme, morpheme, word, word, oror sentence sentence, that contribute to the , that contribute to the meaning of that meaning of that unitunit. .

Semantic FeaturesSemantic FeaturesManMan is is [+HUMAN], [+MALE], [+ADULT][+HUMAN], [+MALE], [+ADULT]WomanWoman is is [+HUMAN], [-MALE], [+ADULT][+HUMAN], [-MALE], [+ADULT]BoyBoy is is [+HUMAN], [+MALE], [-ADULT][+HUMAN], [+MALE], [-ADULT]GirlGirl is is [+HUMAN], [-MALE], [-ADULT][+HUMAN], [-MALE], [-ADULT]

Componential AnalysisComponential AnalysisComponential analysisComponential analysis, also called , also called

feature analysisfeature analysis or or contrast analysiscontrast analysis, , refers to the description of the meaning of refers to the description of the meaning of words through structured sets of semantic words through structured sets of semantic features, which are given as “present”, features, which are given as “present”, “absent” or “indifferent with reference to “absent” or “indifferent with reference to feature”.feature”.

Componential AnalysisComponential AnalysisComponential analysis is a method typical Componential analysis is a method typical

of of structural semanticsstructural semantics which analyzes which analyzes the structure of a word's meaning. the structure of a word's meaning.

Thus, it reveals the culturally important Thus, it reveals the culturally important features by which speakers of the features by which speakers of the language distinguish different words in the language distinguish different words in the domaindomain

Componential AnalysisComponential Analysis

ExampleExampleManMan = = [+ male], [+ mature][+ male], [+ mature]womanwoman = = [– male], [+ mature][– male], [+ mature]boyboy = = [+ male], [– mature][+ male], [– mature]girlgirl [– male] [– mature][– male] [– mature]childchild [+/– male] [– mature].[+/– male] [– mature]. By this, we realize that the word By this, we realize that the word girlgirl can can

have three basic factors (or semantic have three basic factors (or semantic properties): properties): human, younghuman, young, , andand femalefemale. .

Binary FeaturesBinary Features In Componential Analysis, In Componential Analysis, Binary FeatureBinary Feature

is used.is used.

A A Binary FeatureBinary Feature assumes both the [+] and assumes both the [+] and [-] Features.[-] Features.

Girl, woman, sister, wife, queen [+Girl, woman, sister, wife, queen [+FEMALEFEMALE]]Boy, man, brother, husband, king [+Boy, man, brother, husband, king [+MALEMALE]]Child, person, sibling, spouse, monarch [sex not Child, person, sibling, spouse, monarch [sex not

specified] (Lobner, 2002:133)specified] (Lobner, 2002:133)

Binary FeatureBinary FeatureThe featuresThe features [FEMALE] and [MALE] are not [FEMALE] and [MALE] are not

just different but also complementary.just different but also complementary.We can replace them with one We can replace them with one binary binary

featurefeature..Another example is:Another example is:Woman [+FEMALE], [+ADULT], [+HUMAN]Woman [+FEMALE], [+ADULT], [+HUMAN]BachelorBachelor [-FEMALE], [+ADULT], [+HUMAN], [-MARRIED][-FEMALE], [+ADULT], [+HUMAN], [-MARRIED]Spinster [+FEMALE], [+ADULT], [+HUMAN], [-MARRIED]Spinster [+FEMALE], [+ADULT], [+HUMAN], [-MARRIED]Wife [+FEMALE], [+ADULT], [+HUMAN], [+MARRIED]Wife [+FEMALE], [+ADULT], [+HUMAN], [+MARRIED]

So woman is [+/- MARRIED]So woman is [+/- MARRIED] (Saeed, 2002:261) (Saeed, 2002:261)

Lexical RelationsLexical RelationsSemantic features can be used to describe

differences between Antonyms, Hyponymy, and Synonymy.

Or

Semantic Components might help us to define Lexical Relations.

Lexical RelationsLexical RelationsHyponymyHyponymy ( (InclusionInclusion))Hyponymy can be captured by Hyponymy can be captured by binary binary

featuresfeatures..Let’s examine Semantic Features Let’s examine Semantic Features

(components) of(components) of WomanWoman andand SpinsterSpinster..Woman Woman [+FEMALE], [+ADULT], [+HUMAN][+FEMALE], [+ADULT], [+HUMAN]

SpinsterSpinster [+FEMALE], [+ADULT], [+HUMAN], [- MARRIED][+FEMALE], [+ADULT], [+HUMAN], [- MARRIED]

We can see that theWe can see that the spinsterspinster is a hyponym ofis a hyponym of woman.woman.

Lexical RelationsLexical RelationsAnd by comparing the sets of components And by comparing the sets of components

we could define hyponymy as:we could define hyponymy as: A lexical item (P) can be defined as a A lexical item (P) can be defined as a

hyponym of (Q), if all the features of (Q) hyponym of (Q), if all the features of (Q) are contained in the feature specification are contained in the feature specification of (P).of (P).

Woman is [+/- married], butWoman is [+/- married], butSpinster is only [- married] Spinster is only [- married] (Saeed, 2002:260)(Saeed, 2002:260)

Lexical RelationsLexical Relations

Antonymy, or IncompatibilityAntonymy, or IncompatibilityBy analyzing semantic components we also By analyzing semantic components we also

might be able to deal with some kinds of might be able to deal with some kinds of Antonymy or Incompatibility. E.g. we Antonymy or Incompatibility. E.g. we examine the wordsexamine the words Bachelor, Spinster Bachelor, Spinster andand Wife.Wife.

BachelorBachelor [MALE], [ADULT], [HUMAN], [-MARRIED].[MALE], [ADULT], [HUMAN], [-MARRIED].Spinster [FEMALE], [ADULT], [HUMAN], [-MARRIED] Spinster [FEMALE], [ADULT], [HUMAN], [-MARRIED] Wife [FEMALE], [ADULT], [HUMAN], [+MARRIED]Wife [FEMALE], [ADULT], [HUMAN], [+MARRIED]

Lexical RelationsLexical Relations

The words The words bachelorbachelor, , spinsterspinster and and wife wife are incompatible. are incompatible.

And the following definition can derived And the following definition can derived from a comparison of their semantic from a comparison of their semantic components:components:

Lexical items P,Q,R are incompatible if they Lexical items P,Q,R are incompatible if they share a set of features but differ from each share a set of features but differ from each other by one or more contrasting features.other by one or more contrasting features.

Lexical RelationsLexical Relations

BachelorBachelor [MALE], [ADULT], [HUMAN], [-MARRIED].[MALE], [ADULT], [HUMAN], [-MARRIED].Spinster [FEMALE], [ADULT], [HUMAN], [-MARRIED] Spinster [FEMALE], [ADULT], [HUMAN], [-MARRIED] Wife [FEMALE], [ADULT], [HUMAN], [+MARRIED]Wife [FEMALE], [ADULT], [HUMAN], [+MARRIED]

Thus Thus spinsterspinster is incompatible with is incompatible with bachelor by contrast of gender bachelor by contrast of gender specification; and with wife by the marital specification; and with wife by the marital specification. specification.

(Saeed, 2002:261)(Saeed, 2002:261)

Semantic FieldSemantic Field Besides basic properties of semantics, semantic Besides basic properties of semantics, semantic

property is also sometimes used to describe the property is also sometimes used to describe the semantic components of a word, such as:semantic components of a word, such as:

ManMan assumes that the referent is assumes that the referent is humanhuman, , malemale, , and and adult. adult. andand

FemaleFemale is a common component of is a common component of girlgirl, , womanwoman, , and and actressactress..

In this sense, semantic properties are used to In this sense, semantic properties are used to define the semantic field of a word or set of define the semantic field of a word or set of words. words. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semantic_featurehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semantic_feature

Semantic FieldSemantic FieldA A semantic fieldsemantic field is a technical term in the is a technical term in the

discipline of linguistics to describe a set of discipline of linguistics to describe a set of words grouped by meaning in a certain words grouped by meaning in a certain wayway..

Semantic FieldSemantic Field is defined as the set of is defined as the set of words covering a certain area in one words covering a certain area in one language. It is often illustrated by the field language. It is often illustrated by the field of color terminology, e.g. green, blue and of color terminology, e.g. green, blue and grey (Aitchison, 1992:82).grey (Aitchison, 1992:82).

Semantic FieldSemantic FieldThe words in a semantic field share a The words in a semantic field share a

common semantic property.common semantic property.But, words in a semantic field are not But, words in a semantic field are not

synonymous, but are all used to talk about synonymous, but are all used to talk about the same general.the same general.

A kurdish example for Semantic Field may A kurdish example for Semantic Field may be:be:

)طريان – فيغان – شيوةن – شةثوَر()طريان – فيغان – شيوةن – شةثوَر()طوَر – كفن – كيَل - تةنط – تاريك( )طوَر – كفن – كيَل - تةنط – تاريك(

Semantic FieldSemantic FieldThe kinds of semantic fields vary from The kinds of semantic fields vary from

culture to culture.culture to culture.

SourcesSources

Lobner, S. (2002) Lobner, S. (2002) Understanding Understanding Semantics.Semantics. London: Hodder Education London: Hodder Education

Saeed, J. I. (2002) Saeed, J. I. (2002) Semantics. Semantics. 33rdrd ed. ed. England: Pearson Education Ltd.England: Pearson Education Ltd.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semantic_featurehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semantic_feature files.ynada.com/teaching/introling/.../files.ynada.com/teaching/introling/.../

Introling_11_Introling_11_SemanticSemantic_Feat.pdf_Feat.pdf

Jean AitchisonJean AitchisonSalam NawkhoshSalam Nawkhosh

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