The Structure of the English Lexicon

 

Key words: formal classifications, semantic classification of lexicon, seme, semantic feature (atomic predicate), semantic marker, semantic distinguisher, semantic (lexical) field, lexico-semantic group (LSG), thematic group, lexical paradigm, semantic taxonomy, synonym, antonym, hyponym, hyperonym, meronym, cycle, chain, frame.

Look up these terms in the glossary or in the sources indicated in the bibliography to the glossary. Compare the definitions given in English and in Russian.

 

 

Problems for Discussion

 

1. Different ways of classifying lexicon: formal vs. semantic classifications of the English vocabulary.

2. Semantic features as the basis for semantic relations within the vocabulary: semantic markers vs. semantic distinguishers.

3. Types of sense relations: paradigmatic, syntagmatic, hierarchical and the notion of a semantic field.

4. Variants of paradigmatic relations and their logical foundation:

a) synonymy: identity or near-identity of denotation. Types of synonyms: stylistic, ideographic and collocational. The dominant synonym.

b) antonymy: opposition – contrariness, contradictoriness and complementariness;

c) hyponymy-hyperonymy, meronymy: inclusion;

d) compatibility/incompatibility (disjunction);

e) part-whole relations.

 

5. Types of semantic structures:

a) hypero-hyponymic groups

b) meronymic groups

c) lexical paradigms,

d) cycles

e) chains

f) frames

 

 

Questions and Tasks

 

1. Say what principles underlie the following groups of words:

a) ward n, award v, aware adj, awareness n, awash adj, away adv, awe n, awe v, etc.;

b) an album, a ball, a circus, a jacket, music, a teacher, a ward; to ask, to play, to look, to call, to dream, to treat, to abandon; funny, noisy, rainy, sunny, phlegmatic, logical, sensitive; slowly, mainly, shortly, occasionally, normally, seldom.

2. Define the semantic markers and semantic distinguishers in the following sets of words: a man – a woman, a man – a boy, a boy – a girl, an actor – an actress, a lion – a pig, a wife – a spinster, a bachelor – a spinster, an artist – a plumber, a cat – a dog, a widow – a widower, a cow – a bull, a niece – a nephew, a bus – a car, an orange – a lemon, a sea – an ocean.

3. Arrange the following lexical units into LSGs and define the semantic features underlying these arrangements: doctor, conductor, applause, verdict, flute, solo, blame, temperature, piano, cough, detective, innocent, drum, crutch, blood pressure, concerto, court, bandage, stroke, symphony, guilty, plaster, arrest, clarinet, theft, violinist, ward, music-stand, lawyer, investigation, jury, hemorrhage, x-ray, patient.

4. Find antonyms for the words given below: good adj, deep adj, narrow adj, clever adj, young adj, to love v, to reject v, to give v, strong adj, joy n, evil n, up adv, slowly adv, black adj, sad adj, to die v, to open v, clean adj, darkness n, big adj.

5. Applying J.Lyons’ classification of antonyms into contraries, contradictories (complimentaries), conversives and directional oppositions, comment on the subtype of antonymic relations within the following pairs of words: buy – sell, big – small, husband – wife, front – back, single – married, east – west, young – old, come – go, true – false, left – right, teacher – pupil, up – down, dead – alive, arrive – depart, borrow – lend, wide – narrow, above – below, master – servant, beautiful – ugly.

6. Say whether the following synonymic groups represent stylistic, ideographic or collocational synonyms: beautiful – handsome, see – behold, look – appear – seem, rancid – rotten – addled, look – stare, happen – befall, begin – commence – initiate, brotherly – fraternal, flat – apartment, tall – high, end – finish – complete, die – perish, moist – damp.

7. In each group of synonyms find the dominant word and explain your choice: to glare – to gaze – to peep – to look – to stare – to glance, to astound – to surprise – to amaze – to puzzle – to astonish, strange – quaint – odd – queer, to saunter – to stroll – to wander – to walk – to roam, scent – perfume – smell – odour – aroma, to brood – to reflect – to meditate – to think, to fabricate – to manufacture – to produce – to create – to make, furious – enraged – angry, to sob – to weep – to cry.

8. Define the type of semantic relations within the following sets of words: animal, dog, poodle; tree, flower, bush, grass, moss, fern; clever, intelligent, smart; winter, spring, summer, autumn; mother, father, aunt, uncle, grandmother, grandfather, daughter, son, sister, brother, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, sister-in-law, brother-in-law; beautiful, ugly; face, nose, mouth, eye, lip, chin, forehead; private, corporal, sergeant, warrant officer, lieutenant, captain, major, lieutenant colonel, brigadier, major general, lieutenant general, general, field marshal.

Analyze each of the above mentioned sets of words from the point of view of hierarchical/non hierarchical (linear) character of their structures.

9. Give your own examples of:

a) antonymic pairs

b) synonymic sets

c) hypero-hyponymic groups

d) meronymic groups

e) lexical paradigms

f) cycles

g) chains

h) frames

 

 

Recommended Reading

Obligatory

Апресян, Ю.Д. Английские синонимы и синонимический словарь / Ю.Д. Апресян [и др.] // Англо-русский синонимический словарь. – 5-е изд., стер. – М.: Рус. яз., 2000. – С. 502–543.

Лексикология английского языка / Р.З. Гинзбург [и др.]; на англ. яз. – 2-е изд., испр. и доп. – М.: Высш. шк., 1979. – C. 127–140.

Cruse, D.A. Lexical Semantics / D.A. Cruse. – Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Press, 1986. – P. 160 – 171.

Lyons, J. Semantics / J. Lyons. – London; N.Y.; Melbourne: Cambridge Univ. Press, 1977. – P. 270–287.

 

Optional

Лакофф, Д. Мышление в зеркале классификаторов / Д. Лакофф // Новое в зарубежной лингвистике. – М., 1988. – Вып. 23: Когнитивные аспекты языка. – С. 12–51.

Никитин, М.В. Основы лингвистической теории значения / М.В. Никитин. – М.: Высш. шк., 1988. – С. 86–92.

Николаева, М.А. Некоторые теоретические проблемы антонимии / М.А. Николаева // Учен. зап. Моск. гос. ин-та иностр. яз. им. М. Тореза. – М., 1971. – Т. 59. – С. 281–291.

Ульман, С. Семантические универсалии / С. Ульман // Новое в лингвистике. – М.: Прогресс, 1970. – Вып. 5: Языковые универсалии. – С. 250–299.

Филлмор, Ч. Об организации семантической информации в словаре / Ч. Филлмор // Новое в зарубежной лингвистике. – М.: Радуга, 1983. – Вып. 14: Проблемы и методы лексикографии. – С.23–60.

Харитончик, З.А. Лексикология английского языка / З.А. Харитончик. – Минск: Вышэйш. шк., 1992. – С.89–108.

 

 

Topic 7