Lecture 6 Polysemy and Homonymy.ppt

Lecture 6 Polysemy and Homonymy Polysemy 1.Definition ★ Polysemy is a term used in semantic analysis to refer to a lexical item which has a range of different meanings, that is, one single word has two or more senses at the same time. ★ The bulk of English words are polysemic/ polysemous words; one-meaning words (monosemic words) are rare and mainly scientific terms such as hydrogen(氢) , molecule(分子；微粒) ,etc. 2.Two approaches to polysemy ●Diachronic（历时的） The growth or development or change in word meaning The first meaning is the primary/original meaning（原始意义，本义） later meanings are called derived meanings （派生意义） prevent: to anticipate (primary meaning) hand: terminal part of human arm beyond wrist (primary meaning) ●Synchronic（共时的） ＊The comparative value of individual meanings ＊The interrelation between the central meaning（中心意义）and secondary meanings（次要意义） ﹡The basic meaning of a word is called the central meaning（中心意义）and the derived meanings are secondary in comparison. prevent: to keep from happening (central meaning) hand: terminal part of human arm beyond wrist (central meaning) 3.Two processes leading to polysemy ●Radiation（词义的）辐射 ☆Semantically, radiation is the process in which the primary or central meaning stands at the centre while secondary meanings radiate from it in every direction like ray. ☆All the meanings are independent of one another, but can all be traced back to the central meaning. Take head for example: a head of state the head of a list to lose one’s head six head of sheep use your head ●Concatenation连锁，连结（性） Concatenation, “linking together” is a semantic process in which the meaning of a word moves gradually away from its first sense by successive shifts, like the links of a chain, until there is no connection between the sense that is finally developed and the primary meaning. board→木板→餐桌→会议桌→董事会 candidate→穿白袍的人→穿着白袍申请职位的人→候选人 ☆the role of context(语境) II.Homonymy 1. Definiti