Synonyms. Antonyms. Homonyms.

Seminar 5

Questions

1. Which of the subsystems is based on semantic proximity of meanings?

2. Is semantic identity possible?

3. Prove that semantic similarity is always accompanied by semantic difference or even contrast.

4. Is the idea of synonymy connected only with denotational component of meaning?

5. How important are elements in the definition of synonyms?

6. Why are synonymic groups different in different dictionaries?

7. Define synonymic dominant. Is it enough for a language-learner to know only synonymic dominants?

8. What types of synonyms are distinguished?

Synonyms are subdivided into different groups:

a) Ideographic or denotational: the difference in the meaning concerns the notion expressed: change - alter- vary; understand - realize; to walk - to pace - to stroll - to stride.

b) Stylistic synonyms have the same denotational components but differ in connotational components of meaning: hearty - cordial; imitate - monkey; terrible - horrible - atrocious. Among stylistic synonyms we find archaic / modern (oft - often); neologisms / common (baby-moon - artificial satellite); British / American (post - mail); euphemisms (die - pass away).

Very often we cannot draw a strict line of demarcation between ideographic and stylistic synonyms, as they are interwoven. Difference of the connotational component is accompanied by some variation of the denotational meaning of synonyms, that is why it would be more consistent to subdivide synonymous words into ideographic and ideographic-stylistic synonyms, for example: intelligent - shrewd - clever - bright - sagacious; to continue - to endure - to last - to persist.

English scholars speak also of absolute synonyms of exactly the same meaning {furze - gorse - whin) and of phraseological synonyms which are used in different collocations: language - tongue (only mother tongue); cardinal - main (only 4 cardinal points). There are also contextual synonyms that are similar in meaning under some specific distributional conditions (e.g. getandbuy).

Many synonyms in the English language reflect the history of the formation of the English vocabulary (hand - part -share; hand - handwriting). Contraction created synonyms (comfortable - comfy).

Types of synonyms:

• Ideographic – synonyms which differ in the denotational component of meaning i.e. between which a semantic difference is statable.( to look – to see – to gaze – to glare
• Stylistic – which differ in the connotational component of meaning, i.e. all kinds of emotional, expressive and evaluative overtones. (father – Dad – Daddy) words differing in stylistic characteristics
• Absolute – which can each other in any given context, without the slightest alteration in denotative or emotional meaning and connotations.
• Contextual – are synonyms which are similar in meaning only under some specific distributional conditions.
• Dominant – the notion common to all synonyms of the group without contributing any additional information as to the manner, intensy, duration or any attending feature of the referent.

9. Give example of ideographic synonyms.

c) change - alter- vary; understand - realize; to walk - to pace - to stroll - to stride.

10. Give examples of ideographic-stylistic synonyms.

Ideographic-stylistic synonymy is characterized by the lowest degree of semantic proximity. This type of synonyms includes synonyms which differ both in the denotational and connotational and / or pragmatic aspects of meaning, for example, ask – inquire, expect – anticipate. If the synonyms in questions have the same patterns of grammatical and lexical valency, they can still hardly be considered interchangeable in context.

11. Are absolute synonyms possible?

absolute – words coinciding in all their shades of meaning and in all their stylistic characteristics

There are some absolute synonyms in the language, which have exactly the same meaning and belong to the same style, e.g. to moan, to groan; homeland, motherland etc. Sometimes one of the absolute synonyms is specialized in its usage and we get stylistic synonyms, e.g. «to begin»/ native/, «to commence» /borrowing/.

12. What synonyms are called contextual?

Contextual – are synonyms which are similar in meaning only under some specific distributional conditions.

getandbuy

13. What is the difference between relative and ideographic synonyms?

14. What is partial synonymy?

partial synonyms are words which differ in emotional color, valency, style, or grammar.

15. Can all the types of synonyms be found within one and the same synonymic group?

16. What are the sources of synonyms?

The sources of synonymy are borrowing, abbreviation, desynonymization and, in modern times, the formation of phrasal verbs (to turn down - to reject, to call off - to cancel to give up - to abandon).

• synonymic attraction -the referent which is very popular attracts a large number of synonyms

e.g.

• variants and dialects of English

e.g. lass (Scottish) - girl (English)

long-distance call (USA) – trunk call (British)

• word-building

e.g. lab laboratory – shortening

cheery - cheerful affixation

anxiety – anxiousness

• phrasal verbs and set expressions

e.g. to continue – to go on

to smoke – to have a smoke

• euphemisms – a shift of unpleasant meaning of a word to a more pleasant or milder one

e.g. drunk – merry

naked – in one’s birthday suit

17. Why is English so abundant in synonyms?

18. Are euphemisms synonyms?

no

Euphemism (from a Greek word meaning «to use words of good omen»: eu - 'well' + pheme - 'speaking') is the substitution of words of mild or vague connotations for expressions rough, unpleasant. Euphemism is sometimes figuratively called «a whitewashing device» (e.g. «revisiting targets»). Euphemism is used to replace an unpleasant word or expression by a conventionally more acceptable one. For example, the word to die has the following euphemisms: to expire, to pass away, to depart to join the majority, to kick the bucket etc.; pregnant - in a family way.

Euphemism are words or expressions that speakers substitute for taboo words in order to avoid a direct confrontation with topics that are embarrassing, frightening, or uncomfortable: God, the devil, sex, death, money, war, crime, or religion. These topics seem to be cross-cultural. A linguistic consequence of cultural taboos is the creation of euphemisms. The euphemism as a linguistic phenomenon shows no signs of disappearing.