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📋 Contents of This Page

  1. Unit Introduction — What Is Semantics?
  2. Nature of Semantics
  3. Sense and Reference (Frege's Distinction)
  4. The Triangle of Meaning (Ogden & Richards)
  5. Sentence, Utterance and Proposition
  6. Seven Types of Meaning (Geoffrey Leech)
  7. Semantic Relations
  8. Semantic Analysis
  9. Exam Orientation
  10. Common Student Mistakes
  11. Quick Revision
  12. Practice MCQs (20 Questions)
📖 Unit Introduction

What Is Semantics?

We have studied sounds (phonology), words (morphology), and sentence structure (syntax). Now we ask the most fundamental question: What does it all mean? That is the domain of Semantics.

💡 The Big Idea

Consider the word "bank." It can mean the side of a river, or a financial institution. The sentence "I saw her duck" could mean you saw a bird, or you saw her lower her head. Language is full of ambiguity, multiple meanings, and hidden layers. Semantics is the systematic study of all of this.

Definition of Semantics Semantics is the branch of linguistics that studies meaning in language — the meaning of words, phrases, sentences, and larger units of discourse. It investigates how meaning is encoded, how it is interpreted, and how it relates to the world and to human thought.

✅ What This Unit Covers

  • Nature and scope of semantics
  • Sense vs Reference (Frege)
  • The Semiotic Triangle (Ogden & Richards)
  • Sentence, Utterance, and Proposition
  • Seven Types of Meaning (Leech)
  • Semantic relations: synonymy, antonymy, hyponymy, polysemy, homonymy
  • Componential (Feature) Analysis

🎯 Exam Relevance (Sem II)

  • Q2 in QP — all four sub-questions from this unit
  • Seven types of meaning — most frequently tested
  • Sense vs Reference — high-value short answer
  • Sentence vs Utterance vs Proposition — often confused
  • Semantic analysis / componential analysis — practical component
🔭 Core Concept 1

Nature of Semantics

🌐 What Semantics Studies

Semantics operates at multiple levels of language — from the meaning of individual morphemes and words, through phrases and sentences, to the meaning of complete texts and conversations.

LevelWhat Is StudiedExample
Lexical SemanticsMeaning of individual words; semantic relations between wordsSynonymy, antonymy, polysemy, hyponymy
Phrasal SemanticsMeaning of phrases — how word meanings combine"old man" = man who is old (compositional)
Sentential SemanticsMeaning of sentences; truth conditions, propositions"Snow is white" is true if and only if snow is white
Discourse SemanticsMeaning across sentences; coherence, referenceHow pronouns refer back across sentences
Semantics vs. Pragmatics — The Key Boundary Semantics studies the CONVENTIONAL, CONTEXT-INDEPENDENT meaning of linguistic expressions. The meaning is in the words/sentences themselves.
Pragmatics studies meaning in CONTEXT — what the speaker MEANS in a specific situation, which may differ from the literal meaning.
"Can you pass the salt?" — Semantics says it's a question about ability. Pragmatics explains it's a polite request.

📐 Formal (Truth-Conditional) Semantics

  • Associated with philosophers like Frege, Russell, Tarski
  • Meaning = truth conditions
  • A sentence is meaningful if we can state what conditions would make it true
  • "The cat is on the mat" is true iff the cat is actually on the mat

📚 Lexical / Structural Semantics

  • Studies meaning relations between words
  • Associated with linguists like Leech, Lyons, Palmer
  • Covers: synonymy, antonymy, hyponymy, polysemy, componential analysis
  • This is the PRIMARY focus of this unit
🔍 Core Concept 2

Sense and Reference — Frege's Distinction

🌟 Gottlob Frege (1848–1925)

The German philosopher Gottlob Frege made one of the most important distinctions in semantics in his 1892 paper Über Sinn und Bedeutung ("On Sense and Reference"). He showed that a word has TWO semantic dimensions: its sense and its reference.

Frege's Distinction — Sense vs Reference
"the morning star" "the evening star" EXPRESSIONS (with different SENSE) Venus (the same planet) SAME REFERENCE (Referent) Different SENSE "star seen at dawn" "star seen at dusk"
📚 Sense vs Reference — Clear Definitions
Sense (Sinn)
The SENSE of an expression is its abstract meaning — the conceptual content, the mode of presentation, or the way the referent is described. Sense is what you know when you know the meaning of a word, independently of any particular context.
Reference (Bedeutung / Referent)
The REFERENCE of an expression is the actual entity in the world that the expression picks out — the real-world object, person, or thing it points to. Also called the REFERENT.
AspectSenseReference
What it isAbstract meaning / conceptual contentReal-world entity being referred to
Where it existsIn the mind / language systemIn the external world
Can two expressions share?Two expressions can have the SAME reference but DIFFERENT sensesTwo expressions can share the same referent
Classic example"morning star" and "evening star" have different senses (descriptions)Both refer to the same entity: the planet Venus
Indian example"the Prime Minister of India" vs "the leader of the ruling party" — different sensesBoth may refer to the same person at a given time
Can it exist without the other?Sense can exist without reference ("the present King of France" has sense but no referent currently)Reference requires an existing entity
📝 Key Exam Insight The sentence "The morning star is the evening star" was informative — it was a discovery that both names referred to Venus. If sense = reference, this sentence would be trivially true like "Venus is Venus." The fact that it was informative PROVES that sense ≠ reference. This is Frege's celebrated argument.
🌟 Indian Examples of Sense vs Reference "Sachin Tendulkar" (reference: a specific person) vs "the God of Cricket" (different sense, same reference).
"Mumbai" vs "Bombay" — different senses/connotations, same geographic referent.
"मातृभूमी" (motherland) vs "देश" (country) — different senses, may share the same referent (India).
🔺 Core Concept 3

The Semiotic Triangle — Ogden & Richards

🔺 The Triangle of Meaning

C. K. Ogden and I. A. Richards (1923) in their book The Meaning of Meaning proposed the famous Semiotic Triangle (also called the Triangle of Meaning or Referential Triangle) to explain the relationship between a word, the concept it evokes, and the real-world object it refers to.

THOUGHT / REFERENCE (Concept in the mind) SYMBOL (Word / Sign) REFERENT (Real-world object) Symbolises Refers to - - - Stands for (Indirect relationship) - - - Example: "rose" /rəʊz/ Image of a flower 🌹 actual flower
ComponentAlso CalledDefinitionExample ("rose")
SymbolSign, Word, Linguistic formThe linguistic expression — the sound or written formThe word/sound /rəʊz/ — "rose"
Thought / ReferenceConcept, Signified, SenseThe mental concept or image evoked by the symbolThe mental image of a flower with petals, thorns, fragrance
ReferentObject, Thing, DenotatumThe actual real-world entity the symbol refers toThe actual physical rose flower in the world
The Key Insight of the Triangle The relationship between SYMBOL and REFERENT is INDIRECT (shown by the dotted line). A word does not directly connect to a real-world object. The connection is mediated by the CONCEPT (thought/reference) in the human mind. This is why different languages use different words for the same thing — "rose," "गुलाब," "Blume" — different symbols, same concept, same referent.
📐 Core Concept 4

Sentence, Utterance and Proposition

Three terms that look similar but mean very different things in semantics. Students often confuse them — this section will make the difference absolutely clear.

📄
SENTENCE
An abstract grammatical unit — defined by its structure (syntax). A sentence is context-free and has no speaker, time, or place attached to it.
"The cat is on the mat."
(Grammatical form — exists in the language system)
🗣️
UTTERANCE
A concrete instance of a sentence being used by a specific speaker in a specific context. The SAME sentence can be used in many different utterances.
Priya says "The cat is on the mat" at 9am on Monday in her kitchen.
(Specific USE of the sentence)
💡
PROPOSITION
The abstract CONTENT or meaning of a sentence — what it asserts about the world. A proposition has a truth value (it can be true or false). Different sentences can express the same proposition.
"The cat is on the mat" / "The mat has the cat on it" / "Il gatto è sul tappeto" — all express the SAME proposition.
📊 Detailed Comparison
AspectSentenceUtteranceProposition
NatureAbstract grammatical unitConcrete speech eventAbstract semantic content
ContextContext-independentContext-specific (speaker, time, place)Context-independent
Can be true/false?No — sentences are grammatical or notNo — utterances are appropriate or notYES — propositions have truth values
Belongs toSyntax / GrammarPragmatics / UseSemantics / Logic
Multiple?One sentence can generate many utterancesOne utterance = one specific eventMultiple sentences can express one proposition
Example"Dogs bite."Ramesh says "Dogs bite" to warn a child at 3pmThe state of affairs: [dogs bite things]
📝 Exam Tip — The Key Test Is it in the grammar book? → Sentence.
Is it what someone actually said, when, and to whom? → Utterance.
Can you say it's true or false? → Proposition.
The sentence "The earth is flat" is grammatically well-formed. But the proposition it expresses is FALSE. Sentences are grammatical/ungrammatical; propositions are true/false.
🌟 Indian Classroom Example Sentence: "पाऊस येतो" (Paus yeto — It rains.) — abstract grammatical structure.
Utterance: Aai says "पाऊस येतो" to her child on a rainy afternoon in Pune, warning him to take an umbrella.
Proposition: [There is rainfall occurring] — this is the truth-evaluable content, expressible in any language.
🌈 Core Concept 5

Seven Types of Meaning — Geoffrey Leech

Geoffrey Leech in his landmark book Semantics (1974) identified seven types of meaning that a word or expression can carry. This is the most exam-important concept in this unit.

📚 Geoffrey Leech's Framework

Leech argued that "meaning" is not a single, simple thing. A word like "rose" can carry several kinds of meaning simultaneously. Understanding these seven types helps us analyse language more precisely.

Memory Aid — "CCSATCR" Conceptual, Connotative, Stylistic, Affective, Reflected, Collocative, Thematic — seven types. Simpler: "C-C-S-A-R-C-T"
1
Conceptual Meaning
Also called denotative or cognitive meaning. The literal, dictionary meaning of a word — the core logical content. This is the central type of meaning.
"needle" → a thin, pointed metal instrument used for sewing
"die" → to cease to live
2
Connotative Meaning
The additional, associative meaning that a word carries beyond its literal definition — what it suggests or implies. This varies across cultures and individuals.
"needle" (connotation) → pain, sharpness, precision, injections
"rose" → love, romance, beauty, England
3
Stylistic Meaning
Also called social meaning. The meaning a word carries about the social context, register, or style it belongs to. It tells you about the speaker or the situation.
"horse" (neutral) vs "steed" (poetic/archaic) vs "nag" (informal/derogatory) — same referent, different stylistic meaning
4
Affective Meaning
Also called emotive meaning. The emotional attitude of the speaker that is communicated through the choice of words. Words can be positive, negative, or neutral in their emotional loading.
"I suggest you reconsider" (polite) vs "You're dead wrong" (aggressive)
"freedom fighter" vs "terrorist" — same person, opposite affective meanings
5
Reflected Meaning
The meaning that arises when a word has multiple senses and one sense "colours" or "reflects" upon the other senses — especially when one sense is taboo or loaded.
"Come" (in religious contexts) — the word's other associations affect how we receive it in a prayer. "Intercourse" — the now-dominant sexual sense colours all other uses of the word.
6
Collocative Meaning
The meaning a word carries through its typical collocations — the company it habitually keeps. Words acquire associations from words they commonly appear with.
"pretty" collocates with: pretty girl, pretty woman, pretty picture — carries a soft, feminine connotation
"handsome" collocates with: handsome man, handsome salary — carries a stronger, masculine connotation
7
Thematic Meaning
The meaning communicated through the way a message is organised — through word order, focus, and emphasis. The same propositional content expressed differently conveys different thematic meaning.
"Ram bit the dog" vs "The dog was bitten by Ram" — same proposition, different focus/emphasis (thematic meaning differs)
📊 All Seven Types — Summary Table
#TypeAlso CalledCore QuestionKey Example
1ConceptualDenotative, CognitiveWhat does the word literally mean?"rose" = a flowering plant with thorns
2ConnotativeAssociativeWhat does it suggest or imply?"rose" = love, romance, beauty
3StylisticSocialWhat social context/register does it signal?"die" vs "pass away" vs "kick the bucket"
4AffectiveEmotiveWhat emotion does the speaker express?"freedom fighter" vs "terrorist"
5Reflected–How does one sense colour other senses?"intercourse" — sexual sense colours other uses
6Collocative–What company does the word keep?"pretty" vs "handsome" — different typical partners
7Thematic–How does word order/emphasis affect meaning?Active vs passive: same content, different focus
📝 Leech's Key Grouping Leech groups these seven types under broader headings:
Types 1 (Conceptual) = Central/Primary meaning — the core of communication
Types 2–6 (Connotative, Stylistic, Affective, Reflected, Collocative) = Associative meanings — peripheral but important
Type 7 (Thematic) = Thematic meaning — separate category related to information structure
🌟 Applying All 7 Types to One Word: "Mother" 1. Conceptual: Female parent; woman who has given birth to a child
2. Connotative: Care, love, sacrifice, warmth, safety
3. Stylistic: "Mother" (neutral/formal) vs "Mum/Mom" (casual) vs "Matriarch" (elevated) — different registers
4. Affective: Deeply positive emotional loading for most speakers
5. Reflected: "Mother" in "motherland," "mother tongue" — the "origin" sense reflects on other uses
6. Collocative: "Mother nature," "mother board," "mother ship" — collocations shape meaning
7. Thematic: "My mother loves me" vs "I am loved by my mother" — same proposition, different thematic focus
🔗 Core Concept 6

Semantic Relations

Words do not exist in isolation — they form complex networks of meaning relationships. Understanding these relations is at the heart of lexical semantics.

≈
Synonymy
big / large / huge
die / pass away / expire
↔
Antonymy
hot / cold
buy / sell
alive / dead
🔼
Hyponymy
rose → flower → plant
cat → animal → living thing
🔀
Polysemy
bank (river bank / financial bank)
👯
Homonymy
bat (animal) / bat (cricket)
bear (animal) / bear (to carry)
🧩
Meronymy
wheel → part of car
finger → part of hand
📊 Each Relation — Definitions & Examples

1. Synonymy — Same (or Similar) Meaning

Definition
Synonymy is the relationship between two or more words (synonyms) that have the same or very similar meaning. TRUE synonymy (identical meaning in all contexts) is extremely rare — most synonyms differ in register, connotation, or usage.
Synonym SetDifferences (Not perfectly identical)
big / large / huge / enormous / colossalDegree of size; "huge" and "enormous" = much bigger than "large"
die / pass away / expire / kick the bucket / breathe one's lastRegister: neutral / euphemistic / formal / informal/humorous / literary
house / home / residence / abode / dwellingConnotation: "home" implies emotional attachment; "residence" is formal
thin / slim / slender / skinny / gauntConnotation: "slim/slender" = positive; "skinny/gaunt" = negative

2. Antonymy — Opposite Meaning

Type of AntonymyDefinitionExamples
Gradable AntonymsOpposites with a scale between them — intermediate degrees possible. Negating one does NOT necessarily mean the other.hot/cold (warm is between them), tall/short, rich/poor, fast/slow
Complementary AntonymsMutually exclusive — no middle ground. Negating one DOES mean the other.alive/dead (not-alive = dead), married/single, true/false, present/absent
Relational / Converse AntonymsOpposites that define each other — the relation holds in reverse.buy/sell, give/receive, teacher/student, parent/child, employer/employee
Reversive AntonymsAction and its reversal.tie/untie, lock/unlock, appear/disappear, wrap/unwrap

3. Hyponymy — Meaning Inclusion (Hierarchy)

Definition
Hyponymy is the semantic relation where the meaning of one word (the HYPONYM) is included within the meaning of a more general word (the HYPERNYM / SUPERORDINATE). If X is a hyponym of Y, then all Xs are Ys, but not all Ys are Xs.
Hyponymy Hierarchy — Example Animal (superordinate/hypernym)
→ mammal (hyponym of animal; hypernym of dog)
    → dog (hyponym of mammal; hypernym of poodle)
        → poodle (hyponym of dog)

Co-hyponyms = words at the same level: cat, dog, horse, rabbit are all co-hyponyms of "animal."

4. Polysemy vs Homonymy — A Critical Distinction

🔀 Polysemy

  • ONE word with MULTIPLE related meanings
  • All meanings share a common origin
  • Listed under ONE dictionary entry
  • Example: "bank" = riverbank, financial bank, bank of fog (all from same root idea of "shelf/edge")
  • Example: "head" = head of the body, head of the department, head of a nail

👯 Homonymy

  • TWO DIFFERENT words that happen to share the same form (spelling/pronunciation)
  • Meanings are UNRELATED — different etymological origins
  • Listed as SEPARATE dictionary entries
  • Homophones: bear (animal) / bear (to carry) — same sound
  • Homographs: lead (metal) / lead (to guide) — same spelling
📝 Test: How to Distinguish Polysemy from Homonymy Ask: Are the meanings RELATED? If YES → probably polysemy.
"Pupil" (of the eye) and "pupil" (student) — seem unrelated → Homonymy? Actually, both come from Latin "pupilla" (little doll) — looking at your reflection in the eye, like a doll. So they ARE related → Polysemy.
The key is etymological connection, not just superficial similarity.
🧪 Core Concept 7

Semantic Analysis — Componential Analysis

Definition — Componential Analysis
Componential analysis (also called feature analysis or semantic feature analysis) is a method of analysing the meaning of a word by breaking it down into its component semantic features or dimensions — marked as present [+] or absent [–].
🔬 How Componential Analysis Works

Borrowed from the phonological concept of distinctive features, componential analysis proposes that word meanings can be decomposed into binary features. Each feature is either present (+) or absent (−) for a given word.

Classic Example: Kinship Terms English kinship terms can be analysed using the features [±HUMAN], [±ADULT], [±MALE]:
Word[HUMAN][ADULT][MALE]
man+++
woman++−
boy+−+
girl+−−
child+−±
stallion−++
mare−+−
foal−−±
bull−++
cow−+−
What Componential Analysis Explains Semantic anomaly: "My bachelor is pregnant" — bachelor = [+HUMAN][+ADULT][+MALE][+UNMARRIED]; pregnant = [+FEMALE] → contradiction = semantic anomaly.
Redundancy: "male bachelor" — bachelor already contains [+MALE], so "male" is redundant.
Synonymy/Antonymy: Antonyms differ in exactly ONE feature; synonyms have identical feature sets.
1

Identify the word to be analysed

e.g., "aunt"

2

Select relevant semantic dimensions

e.g., [HUMAN], [ADULT], [MALE], [LINEAL]

3

Assign + or − to each feature

"aunt" = [+HUMAN][+ADULT][−MALE][−LINEAL] (collateral, not direct line)

4

Compare with related words

"uncle" = [+HUMAN][+ADULT][+MALE][−LINEAL] — differs from "aunt" only in [MALE]

⚠️ Limitations of Componential Analysis It works well for kinship terms and some nouns but struggles with: abstract words ("love," "justice"), verbs ("run," "think"), adjectives with gradient meanings, and culturally variable terms. It also cannot capture prototype effects — "robin" is a more prototypical "bird" than "penguin," even though both have the same features [+BIRD].
🎓 Exam Orientation

University QP Analysis — Sem II Unit 2

🔥 Q2 (Any 2 of 4) — 15 Marks — Semantics
Nature of Semantics:
→ Define semantics (study of meaning in language) → Levels: lexical, phrasal, sentential, discourse → Distinction from pragmatics → Formal vs lexical semantics → Why meaning is complex (polysemy, homonymy, context-dependence)
Sense and Reference:
→ Frege's distinction (1892) → Define sense (abstract meaning/mode of presentation) → Define reference (real-world entity pointed to) → Morning star / evening star example → Expressions with same reference but different sense → Indian examples → Triangle of meaning (Ogden & Richards) as extension
Seven Types of Meaning (Leech):
→ Context: Leech's Semantics (1974) → All 7 types with clear definitions → Key examples for EACH → Grouping: conceptual (primary) + associative (2–6) + thematic (7) → Apply all 7 to one word like "mother" or "rose"
Semantic Analysis / Componential Analysis:
→ Define componential analysis → Binary feature notation [+/−] → Full table for kinship terms (man/woman/boy/girl + stallion/mare etc.) → What it explains: anomaly, redundancy, antonymy → Limitations (abstract words, prototype effects)
📌 Predicted Questions 1. Distinguish between sentence, utterance, and proposition with examples.
2. What is synonymy? Is true synonymy possible? Discuss.
3. Explain the different types of antonymy with examples.
4. Distinguish between polysemy and homonymy with suitable examples.
5. What is hyponymy? Illustrate with a diagram.
6. Explain Ogden and Richards' Semiotic Triangle (Triangle of Meaning).
⚠️ Common Mistakes

Mistakes Students Commonly Make

❌

Confusing Sense with Reference

Students write "sense = meaning, reference = meaning in context." Wrong. Sense is the abstract conceptual content of a word (its meaning in the language system). Reference is the actual real-world entity the word points to in use. "The morning star" and "the evening star" have the SAME reference (Venus) but DIFFERENT senses (different descriptions/modes of presentation).

❌

Mixing up Sentence, Utterance, and Proposition

Sentence = abstract grammatical unit (in the grammar). Utterance = specific use by a speaker in context. Proposition = truth-evaluable content. A sentence is neither true nor false — only propositions are. An utterance is neither grammatical nor ungrammatical — only sentences are. Keep these three levels strictly separate.

❌

Saying "Conceptual meaning = all meaning"

Conceptual meaning is ONE of seven types. Students sometimes write that "semantics studies conceptual meaning" and leave it there. Leech's whole point is that meaning is MULTI-LAYERED — connotative, stylistic, affective, reflected, collocative, and thematic meanings are equally real and important. Always give all seven types.

❌

Confusing Polysemy with Homonymy

Polysemy = ONE word, MULTIPLE RELATED meanings (same etymology). Homonymy = TWO DIFFERENT words that happen to look/sound the same (different etymologies). "Bank" (financial/riverbank) is polysemy — both from same root. "Bat" (animal/cricket bat) is homonymy — completely different words. The test: are the meanings historically related?

❌

Writing that Synonyms have "exactly the same meaning"

True (absolute) synonymy is almost non-existent in natural language. "Big" and "large" are near-synonyms but differ in connotation and collocation ("big deal" ≠ "large deal"; "big brother" ≠ "large brother"). Always note that synonyms differ in register, connotation, or collocation — they are not perfectly interchangeable in all contexts.

❌

Calling all opposites "antonyms" without specifying the type

"Hot/cold" (gradable), "alive/dead" (complementary), and "buy/sell" (relational/converse) are all antonyms — but very different types. "Hot/cold" has degrees between; "alive/dead" does not. "Buy/sell" involve a relationship between two parties. Always specify the TYPE of antonymy for full marks.

⚡ Quick Revision

One-Page Summary

What Is Semantics?

  • Study of meaning in language
  • Levels: lexical, phrasal, sentential, discourse
  • Semantics ≠ Pragmatics (context-free vs in-context)
  • Key scholars: Frege, Leech, Ogden & Richards

Sense vs Reference

  • Sense = abstract conceptual meaning
  • Reference = real-world entity pointed to
  • "morning star" / "evening star" → same referent (Venus), different senses
  • Frege 1892: Über Sinn und Bedeutung

Semiotic Triangle

  • Ogden & Richards (1923)
  • Symbol ↔ Thought/Reference ↔ Referent
  • Symbol → Referent: INDIRECT (dotted)
  • All mediated through mental concept

Sentence / Utterance / Proposition

  • Sentence = abstract grammar unit
  • Utterance = specific use in context
  • Proposition = truth-evaluable content
  • Only propositions are true/false

Leech's 7 Types of Meaning

  • 1. Conceptual (literal/core)
  • 2. Connotative (associations)
  • 3. Stylistic (register/social)
  • 4. Affective (emotional)
  • 5. Reflected (one sense colours another)
  • 6. Collocative (typical word partners)
  • 7. Thematic (word order/focus)

Semantic Relations

  • Synonymy ≈ same meaning (near)
  • Antonymy ↔ opposite (gradable/complementary/converse)
  • Hyponymy = meaning inclusion hierarchy
  • Polysemy = one word, related meanings
  • Homonymy = two words, same form
  • Meronymy = part-whole relation

Componential Analysis

  • Breaks meaning into binary features [+/−]
  • man = [+HUM][+ADULT][+MALE]
  • woman = [+HUM][+ADULT][−MALE]
  • Explains anomaly, redundancy, antonymy
  • Limitation: fails for abstract words

Antonymy Types

  • Gradable: hot/cold (scale between)
  • Complementary: alive/dead (no middle)
  • Converse/Relational: buy/sell, parent/child
  • Reversive: tie/untie, lock/unlock
🧠 Memory Tricks Leech's 7 types — "CCSARCT": Conceptual, Connotative, Stylistic, Affective, Reflected, Collocative, Thematic.
Polysemy vs Homonymy: Poly = one word, many related meanings (POLY = many, ONE source). Homo = two DIFFERENT words that look/sound the same (HOMO = same form, different origin).
Sense vs Reference: Sense = in your HEAD (mental concept). Reference = in the WORLD (the actual thing).
Proposition test: Can it be TRUE or FALSE? YES = proposition. NO = just a sentence or utterance.
💬

Practice MCQs — Sem II Unit 2: Semantics

20 Questions · Choose the best answer · Submit for instant score

Question 01
Semantics is the branch of linguistics that studies ___.
Question 02
The distinction between SENSE and REFERENCE was made by ___.
Question 03
"The morning star" and "the evening star" have the same ___ (they both refer to Venus) but different ___.
Question 04
The Semiotic Triangle (Triangle of Meaning) was proposed by ___.
Question 05
In the Semiotic Triangle, the relationship between SYMBOL and REFERENT is ___.
Question 06
A PROPOSITION, unlike a sentence or utterance, can be ___.
Question 07
The literal, dictionary meaning of a word — its core logical content — is called ___ meaning by Leech.
Question 08
"Freedom fighter" vs "terrorist" (for the same person) is an example of which type of meaning?
Question 09
The difference in meaning between "horse" (neutral), "steed" (poetic), and "nag" (informal) illustrates ___ meaning.
Question 10
"Ram bit the dog" vs "The dog was bitten by Ram" — same propositional content but different emphasis — illustrates which type of meaning?
Question 11
"Hot" and "cold" are ___ antonyms because there are intermediate degrees (warm, cool) between them.
Question 12
"Buy" and "sell" are ___ antonyms — they define each other through a relational opposition.
Question 13
In the hyponymy hierarchy, "rose" is a HYPONYM of ___.
Question 14
The word "bank" meaning both "river bank" and "financial bank" is an example of ___.
Question 15
Componential analysis uses ___ features to break down word meaning.
Question 16
According to componential analysis, "man" and "woman" differ in exactly which feature?
Question 17
The meaning a word acquires from the words it habitually appears with is called ___ meaning.
Question 18
Geoffrey Leech published his influential work on semantics in ___.
Question 19
Two different words that happen to share the same spelling and/or pronunciation (unrelated in origin) are called ___.
Question 20
When a word has multiple senses and one (often taboo) sense influences how the other senses are perceived, this is called ___ meaning.
0/20
Questions Correct