Semantic Structure Analysis

body

Grammatical meaning: noun, singular

Lexical meaning:

Ø according to the referential approach –

Denotation (Intention)

1. The entire material or physical structure of an organism, especially of a human or animal.

2. The trunk or torso of a human or animal.

3. A human; a person.

4. A number of persons, concepts, or things regarded as a group: We walked out in a body.

5. The main or central part, as:

6. A mass of matter that is distinct from other masses: a body of water; a celestial body.

7. A collection or quantity, as of material or information: the body of evidence.

8. Consistency of substance, as in paint, textiles, or wine: a sauce with body.

9. Printing The part of a block of type underlying the impression surface.

Reference (Extension) – One specific organism (or any other above)

Ø according to the functional approach –

a noun, because it is preceded by the indefinite article and performs the function of direct object

Ø according to the operational approach –

the lexical context (“curled up at their feet”) determines the meaning of the word “body” as “a person” / “somebody”

(feet – according to operational approach the meaning is “ground”)

Componential analysis

body

the meaning of the word “body” has the following components:

Ø physical / material / organism,

Ø matter/ consistency / substance / mass / collection

Ø main / central

.

sit down

Ø positional GO (distribution: Donald and Sophie – objects undergoing change

in the carriage – the endpoint of the change)

Ø with the torso vertical and the body supported on the buttocks.

Aspects of meaning

Homeless

Denotation - someone without housing;

Connotation – unfortunate (emotive + evaluative)

Carriage

Denotation - a railroad passenger car

Pragmatic aspect –chiefly British

Polysemy diachronically

Ø Primary meaning - O.E. bodig "trunk, chest" (of a man or animal);

Ø Secondary meaning 1 - "person" late 13c. (based on metonymical shift)

Ø Secondary meaning 2 - "corpse" (formed as a result of ellipses from dead body) late 13c.

Ø Secondary meaning 3 - "main part" (metaphorical shift) (1520s).

We observe the generalization of the denotative meaning

Polysemy synchronically

Ø Basic meaning - The entire material or physical structure

Ø Marginal meanings –

1. The trunk or torso of a human or animal.

2. A human; a person.

3. A number of persons, concepts, or things regarded as a group: We walked out in a body.

4. The main or central part

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