SEMANTICS LANGUAGE AND MEANING

Syafinaz Siti Amira

What Is Semantics?
semantics n. (used with a sing. or pl. verb) 1. Linguistics The study or science of meaning in language. 2. Linguistics The study of relationships between signs and symbols and what they represent. Also called semasiology. 3. The meaning or the interpretation of a word, sentence, or other language form: We're basically agreed; let's not quibble over semantics. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/semantics

 An understanding of semantics is essential to the study of language acquisition (how language users acquire a sense of meaning, as speakers and writers, listeners and readers) and of language change (how meanings alter over time). It is important for understanding language in social contexts, as these are likely to affect meaning, and for understanding varieties of English and effects of style. It is thus one of the most fundamental concepts in linguistics. The study of semantics includes the study of how meaning is constructed, interpreted, clarified, obscured, illustrated, simplified negotiated, contradicted and paraphrased.

Semantics
Word Meaning (Denotive / Connotative) Phrase And Sentence Meaning Lexical And Structural Figurative Language ( Idioms & Metaphors) Phrasal Verb

Word meaning
Words have two main kinds of meaning, their denotation and their connotation. Denotation refers to the literal meaning of a word, the "dictionary definition. - For example: - If you look up the word snake in a dictionary, you will discover that one of its denotative meanings is "any of numerous scaly, legless, sometimes venomous reptiles having a long, tapering, cylindrical body and found in most tropical and temperate regions."

 Connotation, on the other hand, refers to the associations that are connected to a certain word or the emotional suggestions related to that word. The connotative meanings of a word exist together with the denotative meanings. The connotations for the word snake could include evil or danger. A connotation is frequently described as either positive or negative, with regards to its pleasing or displeasing emotional connection. E.g : "used car" and "previously owned car" have the same literal meaning, but many dealerships prefer the latter, since it is thought to have fewer negative connotations.

 Examples: The words home, house, residence and dwelling all have the same denotation, but the connotation of each word is very different. Denotation: Where a person lives at any given time. Connotation: 1. Home: cozy, loving, comfortable 2. House: the actual building or structure 3. Residence: cold, no feeling 4. Dwelling: primitive or basic surroundings

Differences between denotation and connotation