Homonymy and polysemy

It should be stressed, however, that split polysemy as a source of homonyms is not accepted by some scholars. It is really difficult sometimes to decide whether a certain word has or has not been subjected to the split of the semantic structure and whether we are dealing with different meanings of the same word or with homonyms, for the criteria are subjective and imprecise. The imprecision is recodered in the data of different dictionaries which often contradict each other on this very issue, so that board is represented as two homonyms in Müller’s dictionary and as one and the same word in Hornby’s dictionary.

Answer these questions.

1. Which words do we call homonyms?

2. Why can`t homonyms be regarded as expressive means of the language?

3. What is the traditional classification of homonyms? Illustrate your answer with examples.

4. What are the distinctive features of the classification of homonyms suggested by Professor A.I.Smirnitsky?

5. What are the main sources of homonyms? Give examples.

6. In what respect does split polysemy stand apart from other sources of homonyms?

7. Prove that the language units board (“a long and thin piece of timber”) and board (“daily meals”) are two different meanings of one and the same word.

Vocabulary

encumbrance препятствие

homographs омографы

homonym омоним

proper homonyms собственно омонимы, полные омонимы

homophones омофоны

imprecise неточный, imprecision неточность

implement прибор

intrusion вторжение

sever разрывать

split polysemy распад полисемии

Lecture 11

Synonyms

(pp. 184 – 197)

1. Which words do we call synonyms?

2. Synonyms are one of the language’s most important expressive means.

3. The problem of criteria of synonymy.

4. The dominant synonym. Its characteristic features.

5. Classification system for synonyms established by V.V.Vinogradov.

6. Classification of synonyms based on difference in connotations.

1. Which words do we call synonyms?

Synonyms can be defined in terms of linguistics as two or more words of the same language, belonging to the same part of speech and possessing one or more identical or nearly identical denotational meanings, interchangeable, at least in some contexts, without any considerable alteration in denotational meaning, but differing in morphemic composition, phonetic shape, connotations, affective value, style and idiomatic use.

Synonymy is one of modern linguistics’ most controversial problems. The very existence of words traditionally called synonyms is disputed by some linguists.

Even though one may accept that synonyms in the traditional meaning of the term are somewhat elusive (неясный) and, to some extent, fictitious, it is certain that there are words in any vocabulary which clearly develop regular and distinct relations when used in speech. The verbs like, admire and love, all describe feelings of attraction (привлекательность),approbation (одобрение), fondness (любовь, нежность)

. Yet, each of the three verbs, though they all describe more or less the same feeling of liking, describes it in its own way.

The duality of synonyms is, probably, their most confusing feature: they are somewhat the same, and yet they are most obviously different. Both aspects of their dual characteristics are essential for them to perform their function in speech: revealing different aspects, shades and variations of the same phenomenon.

Synonyms add precision to each detail of description and show how the correct choice of a word from a group of synonyms may colour the whole text.

In the following extract an irritated producer is talking to an ambitious young actor:

“Think you can play Romeo? Romeo should smile, not grin (ухмыляться), walk, not swagger (расхаживать с важным видом); speak his lines, not mumble them.”

Here the second synonym in each pair is quite obviously contrasted and opposed to the first: “… smile, not grin. ” Yet, to grin means more or less the same as to smile, only denoting a broader and a rather foolish smile. In the same way to swagger means “to walk”, but to walk in a defiant or insolent manner. Mumbling is also a way of speaking, but of speaking indistinctly or unintelligibly.

2. Synonyms are one of the language’s most important expressive means

The principal function of synonyms is to present the same phenomenon in different aspects, shades and variations.

Let us consider the verb to walk and its three synonyms to stagger (идти шатаясь), to stumble (идти спотыкаясь), to shamble (волочить ноги, тащиться), each of which describes the process of walking in its own way. In contrast to walk the other three words do not merely convey the bare idea of going on foot but connote the manner of walking as well. Stagger means “to sway while walking” and, also, implies a considerable, sometimes painful, effort. Stumble, means “to walk tripping over uneven ground and nearly falling.” Shamble implies dragging one’s feet while walking; a physical effort is also connoted by the word.

A carefully chosen word from a group of synonyms is a great asset not only on the printed page but also in a speaker’s utterance.

The skill to choose the most suitable word in every context and every situation is an essential part of the language learning process.

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