LEXICAL SEMANTICS Meaning and
Definition
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Lexical semantics refers to the branch of linguistics that focuses on the study of word meanings and how they are organized and expressed in language. It is concerned with understanding how words convey meaning and the relationships they form with other words within a language system.
The central objective of lexical semantics is to describe and analyze the various types of meaning that words can possess. Meaning can be broadly categorized into two main types: denotative meaning and connotative meaning. Denotative meaning refers to the literal, dictionary definition or referential meaning of a word, while connotative meaning refers to the subjective, emotional, or cultural associations that a word can evoke.
Lexical semantics also explores semantic relationships between words, such as synonymy, antonymy, hyponymy, and meronymy. Synonymy refers to words that have similar or identical meanings, while antonymy refers to words that have opposite meanings. Hyponymy refers to the hierarchical relationship between words, where a more general word (hypernym) encompasses more specific words (hyponyms). Meronymy refers to the relationship between parts and wholes, where a word represents a part of another word.
Furthermore, lexical semantics examines context and context-dependent meaning. The same word can have different meanings depending on the context in which it is used. This is known as polysemy. Additionally, it investigates the effects of different linguistic phenomena, such as word formation, metaphor, and metonymy, on word meaning.
In summary, lexical semantics focuses on the study of word meanings, their relationships, and how they are expressed in language. It plays a crucial role in understanding the building blocks of language and how meaning is conveyed through words.
Etymology of LEXICAL SEMANTICS
The word "lexical" comes from the Greek term "lexikos" meaning "of or pertaining to words", which is derived from "lexis" meaning "speech" or "word". "Semantics" also has Greek origins, with "semantikos" meaning "significant" or "meaningful". The combination of these two terms, "lexical semantics", refers to the branch of linguistics that focuses on the study of word meaning and its relation to language.
