Practice 4-1
Questions for discussion:
1. What is a semantic field?
A semantic field – is a large group of words of different parts of speech in which the underlying notion is
broad enough to include almost all-embracing sections of vocabulary. The main feature of a semantic
field is its national specifics. E.g., cosmonaut (n), spacious (adj.), to orbit (v) belong to the semantic field
of ‘space’.
2. What is a lexico-semantic group?
Lexical groups of words belonging to the same part of speech and linked by a common concept are
termed lexico-semantic group (LSG). E.g., bread, cheese, milk, meat make up LSG with the concept of
food.
2. What are hyponyms?
The relationship existing between elements of LSG and semantic fields is that of inclusion, or hyponymy.
E.g., the meaning of “car, bus, taxi” is included in the meaning of “vehicle”.
3. Explain classification of synonyms viewed synchronically.
Synchronically we classify synonyms into the following groups.
Stylistic synonymy implies no interchangeability in context because the underlying situations are
different, e.g. children – infants, dad – father.
Ideographic synonymy presents a still lower degree of semantic proximity and is observed when the
connotational and pragmatic aspects are similar, but there are certain differences in the denotational
aspect of meaning of two words, e.g. forest – wood, apartment – flat, shape – form.
Total (absolute) synonyms which can replace each other in any given context. Examples of this kind can
be found among technical terms peculiar to this or that branch of knowledge. In linguistics, e.g., noun ::
substantive; functional affix :: flexion; in medicine: scarlet fever :: scarlatina; the flu :: grippe; відсоток ::
процент.
Contextual (or context-dependent) synonyms are similar in meaning only in some specificdistributional
conditions. E.g., He bought (got) the book at the bookshop. Он купил (получил) книгу. I can’t stand
(bear) him. Я не могу его терпеть (переносить).
Territorial (local) synonyms are words which don’t differ either ideographically or stylistically but are
used in different countries speaking the same language. E. g.:
Britain America Canada Australia
Autumn fall fall autumn
Pavement sidewalk sidewalk footpath
4. Explain synonymy viewed diachronically.
Diachronically we speak about the origin of synonyms and the causes of their abundance in English.
Synonyms that owe their origin to foreign borrowings. The peculiar feature of synonymy in English is the
contrast between simple native words stylistically neutral, literary words borrowed from French and
learned words of Greco-Latin origin:
Native English words Words borrowed from French Words borrowed from Latin
to ask to question to interrogate
to gather to assemble to collect
to end to finish to complete
Synonyms created through the adoption of words from dialects, and American English in particular, e.g.:
girl:: lass (Scottish); wireless :: radio (American); liquor :: whiskey (Irish).
Synonyms created by means of all word – forming processes productive in the language at a given time
of its history. E.g.:
Affixation: anxiety :: anxiousness; effectivity :: effectiveness.
Loss of affixes: amongst :: among; await :: wait.
Shortening: memorandum :: memo; microphone :: mike; popular :: pop.
Compounding: resistance :: fight back; treachery :: sell out.
5. What is paronymy?
Paronymy is an intermediate phenomenon between homonymy (identical sound-form) and synonymy
(similar meaning).
6. What are antonyms?
Antonyms – a class of words grouped together on the basis of the semantic relations of opposition.
