Semantics Flashcards
Semantics
The study of the meaning of morphemes, words, phrases and sentences.
Stereotype
A list of characteristics describing a prototype.
Referent
The entity identified by the use of a referring expression such as a noun or noun phrase.
Speaker-Reference
What the speaker is referring to by using some linguistic expression.
Linguistic-Reference
The systematic denotation of some linguistic expression as part of a language.
Coreference
Two linguistic expressions that refer to the same real-world entity.
Anaphora
A linguistic expression that refers to another linguistic expression.
Deixis
Deictic expression has one meaning but can refer to different entities depending on
the speaker and his or her spatial and temporal orientation.
The Principle of Compositionality
The semantic meaning of any unit of language is determined by the semantic
meanings of its parts along with the way they are put together.
The Theory of Naming
Theory, explained in Plato‟s dialogue Cratylus maintains that language is a
communication system which works with two elements; the signifier, and the signified.
The Conceptual Theory of Meaning
In the theory of meaning, just explained, words and things are directly related.
The Behavioristic Theory of Meaning
The description of a language is not complete
without some reference to the context of situation in which the language operated.
Syntactically Good
In a way that relates to the grammatical arrangement of words in a sentence.
Semantically Odd
Using something in a way that it’s not supposed to be used, regarding to the meaning of words.
Semantic Role
The actual role a participant plays in some real or imagined situation, apart from the linguistic encoding of those situations.
Agent
The entity that performs the action.
Theme
The entity that is involved in or affected by the action.
Instrument
If an agent uses another entity in performing an action, that other entity takes the role of instrument.
Benefactive
The noun or noun phrase that refers to the person or animal who benefits, or is meant to benefit, from the action of the verb.
Experiencer
When an NP designates an entity as the person who has a feeling, apperception or a state, it fills the role
of experience.
Location
It explains where an entity is.
Source
From where an entity moves.
Goal
Where an entity moves to.
Synonymy
Two or more forms with very closely related meanings, which are often, but not always,
intersubstitutable in sentences.
