Syntax and Semantics I

Question 1

Sign

Answer 1

Signifier + Signified

Question 2

Signifier

Answer 2

The thing that is representing the sign, physical form

Question 3

Signified

Answer 3

The meaning or concept that the signifier represents

Question 4

Homonymy

Answer 4

Two words that have the same form but mean two different things

Same signifier, different signifieds

(Ex. spring the object and spring the season)

Question 5

Homophones

Answer 5

Two words that sound the same but different meanings

Question 6

Homographs

Answer 6

Words that are written the same but sound different and mean different things
(Ex. tear and tear)

Question 7

Polysemy

Answer 7

One form that has multiple related meanings

(Ex. Mole)

Question 8

Synonyms

Answer 8

Different words that mean almost the same thing

Question 9

Antonyms

Answer 9

Words that have complete opposite meanings

Question 10

Argument

Answer 10

Things, people, objects that are independent. (Usually nouns)

Arguments participate in predicates

Question 11

Predicate

Answer 11

Qualities, relations, acts, properties, states, things that are depend on the argument (usually verbs)

Question 12

Valency

Answer 12

The number of arguments a predicate requires

(Ex. the dog chases the ball - chases is the predicate, dog and ball are arguments, so the valency of chases is 2)

Question 13

Intransitive

Answer 13

1 argument

Motion, state of being, change of state

Requires a subject argument

Question 14

Transitive

Answer 14

2 arguments

Interaction, motion + contact, induced change of state

Requires a subject argument and a direct object argument

Question 15

Ditransitive

Answer 15

3 arguments

Transfer, interaction that affects a 3rd party

Requires a subject argument, a direct object argument, and an indirect object argument

Question 16

Subject (S)

Answer 16

Argument that does something

Question 17

Direct Object (DO)

Answer 17

Argument that the subject does something to

Question 18

Indirect Object (IO)

Answer 18

Argument that is affected by interaction between S and DO

Question 19

Oblique Object (X)

Answer 19

“Extra” argument, no direct immediate relation to the predicate

Optional, not required by any type of predicate

Question 20

Semantics - Syntax

Answer 20

Arguments - Subject (S), Direct Object (DO), Indirect Object (IO), and Oblique (X)(optional)

Predicate - Verb (V)

Valency - N

Question 21

Encode Grammatical Relations

Answer 21

Showing who is who and doing what; who is S, DO, IO, and X

1.Word Order
2.Case
3.Verbal Agreement

Question 22

Word Order

Answer 22

The way the words are ordered

(Ex. sleeps the dog makes no sense but the dog sleeps does, and from that we can tell who the S, and DO are)

Question 23

Case

Answer 23

In english case markings are

Subject = nominative - NOM

Direct Object = accusative = ACC

Indirect Object = dative = DAT

Different languages will have different markings

Question 24

Verbal Agreement

Answer 24

Using first, second, and third person to mark S, DO, and IO