REVIEW SEMANTICS ARTICLE BY RATNA SARI (2)

REVIEW ARTICLE BY RATNA SARI

TITLE         : Semantic Field, Semantic Relation and Semantic Component

AUTHOR   : Benedict Orji Ukpabi

PAGES        : 17

1.     Demograph

The authors is a students of University of Port Harcourt, English studies Department, Faculty of Humanities. He write it on December 2014.

2.     Background

This paper discussed semantic field, semantic relation and semantic components. It characterised the semantic field of ‘motor vehicles’ in terms of semantic component and discussed the advantages and disadvantages in the use of field relations and components to describe the meaning of words.

3.     Methodology

He used methodology by library studies.

4.     Result

He solve of these question of the paper. The Question is:

a.       What do you understand by semantic field, semantic relation and semantic component?

b.      Characterize the semantic field of ‘motor vehicles’ in terms of semantic component.

c.       What advantages and disadvantages can you see in the use of field relations and components to describe the meaning of words?

Question 1: What do you understand by semantic field, semantic relation and semantic  component?

Semantic Field

Semantic field is a set of words or lexemes related in meaning; also called lexical field, field, or field of meaning. Most often, fields are defined by subject matter, such as body parts, landforms, diseases, colours, foods, or kinship relations.

The semantic field of 'water' could be divided into a number of subfields; in addition, there would appear to be a great deal of overlap between terms such as cove/harbour/bay.

There are lexical groups or components that made up semantic field :

1. Meronymy

A meronym is a word that denotes a constituent part or a member of something. For

example, apple is a meronym of apple tree; Finger is a meronym of hand.

2.      Sememe

A sememe is the name for the smallest unit of meaning recognized in semantics,

a single sememe (for example [go] or [move]) can be conceived as the abstract representation of such as verbs as skate, roll, jump, slide, skip or turn.  

Semantic Relations

Semantic relations or meaning relations are words that are semantically related to other words.

There are lexical groups or components that made up semantic relation :

1. Synonym

Synonyms usually differ in at least one semantic feature.  Sometimes the feature is:

a.       objective (denotative), referring to some actual, real world difference in the referents; example: walk, lumber, stroll, meander, lurch, stagger, stride, mince. 

b.       subjective (connotative), referring to how the speaker feels about the referent rather than any real difference in the referent itself; example:  die, pass away, give up the ghost, kick the bucket, croak.

                 2.     Antonyms

This sub-field give us definition and so many example about There are three categories of antonyms:

a.       Graded antonyms

b.      Complementary antonyms

c.       Relational antonyms

3.     Polysemy

This is a meaning relation whereby a single lexical item has several (apparaently) related

meanings.

Examples of polysemous words in English:

Mouth:

(i) as part of the body

(ii) as where rivers flow into the sea

(iii) as entrance of a cave

4.     Antagonymy

A word that can mean the opposite of itself is an antagonym.

Examples:

cleave (to cut apart)
cleave (to seal together)

5.     Homonymy

A Homonym is a word that is written and pronounced the same way as another, but which has a different meaning.

Examples of a homonym:

They look and sound the same, but are different verbs as can be seen from their forms:

Lie; lied, lied (to say something untrue)

Lie; lay, lain (to be in a horizontal position)

6.     Hyponymy/hypernymy

Hyponymy is a relation between two words in which the meaning of one of the words includes the meaning of the other word.  Examples are : apple- fruit ; car- vehicles ; chair- furniture ; cow - animal.

Semantic Components

A semantic component is a potentially contrastive part of the meaning of a lexical unit.
Kinds of semantic components:
	Here is a table that describes some kinds of semantic components: Semantic Component Description Example Contrastive, also known as: diagnostic, distinctive, essential Distinguishes one lexical unit from another “Male” is the contrastive semantic component distinguishing man from woman, and boy from girl. Shared, also known as common Occurs in each member of a group of lexical units “Human” is a shared component for man, woman, boy, and girl. Shared, also known as common Occurs in each member of a group of lexical units ‘Animal’ is a shared component for goat, cow, dog, cat, antelope. Shared, also known as common Occurs in each member of a group of lexical units ‘Female’ is a shared component for woman, girl, mare.

Question 2: Characterize the semantic field of ‘motor vehicles’ in terms of semantic component

Motor Vehicle
Auto mobile
Motor car Cycle Jeep bike Taxi Hearse Sports car Elevator	Bus luxury bus school bus air bus            sea bus electric-conductor	Truck Tanker Wagon Tipper Bargain Wares commerce	Van Pickup van Caravan Camper Cart Railway- baggage- car	Motor Power Etc.

Looking at the diagram above, the semantic field of motor vehicle has a wide spectrum of meanings.

Question 3: What advantages and disadvantages can you see in the use of field relations and components to describe the meaning of words?

Advantages

·      In terms of a small set of semantic features one can show the similarities and differences between the senses of lexical items.

·      Field relations and componential analysis can account for selectional restrictions imposed upon the occurrence of lexemes more explicitly

·      Field relations and components provide a wide spectrum of meaning of a lexeme thereby providing the linguistic contextual opportunity for hedging in communication.

Disadvantage(s)

Field relations and semantic components of lexical items create room for ambiguity of meaning. Finding a specific meaning of a lexeme becomes difficult except on pragmatic ground where context of usage could help to deduce the meaning of a lexeme. For example, the lexeme ‘van’, how can we know what the speaker refers to; a pickup van, a caravan, wagon, army wing, or camper? Therefore meaning of a lexical item is inconsistent and might be misleading.

5.     Strange and Weakness

Strange:

This paper is full of explanation and so many examples. The author had completed answer of that three question. I got something new about semantic in this paper beside of my previous review. Now, I know what is semantics field, relation and components. And also we got what the purpose of this learn, advantages and disadvantages used it to describe the meaning of word.  A students who is study about semantic must read this paper. You can get new understanding of semantics in here.

Weakness:

I got a little problem of some word example that is so many new word I did not know the meaning, so if you read this paper you must diligent open your dictionary. But it will help you to improve your English.

This is link of article :
https://www.academia.edu/12865362/Semantic_Field_Semantic_Relation_and_Semantic_Component