Semantics Assignment
Semantics Assignment
Yohanes Maramis
164 031 17
4. HYPONYMY
Hyponymy is the state or phenomenon that shows the relationship between more
general term (lexical representation) and the more specific instances of it.
The concrete forms of sets of word (the specific instances) are called “hyponyms”.
Example: The lexical representation of: red, yellow, green, blue, purple, black, is
[+color]. Thus, we can say that: “red” is a hyponym of “color”, and so on.
Sometimes there is no single word in the language that encompasses as set of hyponyms.
Example: clarinet, guitar, piano, trumpet, violin are hyponyms because they are “musical
instruments”, but there is not a single word meaning “musical instrument” that has these
words as its hyponyms.
The relationship between the general term and the specific instances is often be described
using a hierarchical diagram, called “taxonomy”.
Example of Taxonomy:
Vegetable
5. IDIOM
An idiom is a group of words in which the meaning cannot be explained in terms
of the habitual meanings of the words that make up the piece of language. Idioms are
similar in structure to ordinary phrases except that they tend to be frozen in form and do
not readily enter into other combinations or allow the word order to change. Idioms
involve the non-literal use of language and they can be categorized as follows:
a. Alliterative Comparisons :
Dead as a dodo (dead as in extinct).
Fit as a fiddle (in good health).
As good as gold (well behaved).
b. Noun Phrases:
A blind alley (route that leads nowhere, a false trail).
A close shave (a narrow escape).
A red letter day (a day that will never be forgotten).
c. Prepositional Phrase:
At sixes and sevens (unable/unwilling to agree).
By hook or by crook (by whatever methods prove necessary).
In for a penny, in for a pound (involved irrespective of cost).
6. DENOTATION
Denotation is the literal, basic meaning of a word or expression. Denotation contrasts with
connotation, which refers to the ideas or emotions suggested by a word, for example :
7. CONNOTATION
A connotation is a feeling or idea that a word has, in addition to its literal or main meaning
(the denotation), for example :
Childish, childlike, young, youthful
Rich, loaded, privileged, wealthy, affluent
Broke, poor, impoverished
Frugal, economical, stingy, cheap
8. HYPONYM
Hyponym is a word whose meaning is included in the meaning of another more
general word, for example :
color and gray
creation and art
measure and meter
picture and hologram
artwork and drawing
9. AMBIGUITY
10. REDUNDANCY