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Semantics Exercises 2ABD

The document provides examples of semantic features that can be used to categorize groups of words. For each example, it identifies the shared semantic features of words in groups (a) and (b), as well as features that distinguish between the groups. It then provides additional examples of words and identifies their individual semantic features. Finally, it analyzes semantically anomalous sentences and explains why each one is anomalous based on semantic features of the words used.

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64 views8 pages

Semantics Exercises 2ABD

The document provides examples of semantic features that can be used to categorize groups of words. For each example, it identifies the shared semantic features of words in groups (a) and (b), as well as features that distinguish between the groups. It then provides additional examples of words and identifies their individual semantic features. Finally, it analyzes semantically anomalous sentences and explains why each one is anomalous based on semantic features of the words used.

Uploaded by

ngochaphamthi2003
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Exercise 2A: For each group of words given

below, state what semantic features are shared


by the (a) words and the (b) words, and what
semantic features distinguish between the
classes of (a) words and (b) words.

The first is done as example.


1. (a) widow, mother, sister, aunt, seamstress
(b) widower, father, brother, uncle, tailor
The (a) and (b) words are [+human].
The (a) words are [+female].
The (b) words are [+male].
2. (a) bachelor, son, paperboy, pope, chief
(b) bull, rooster, drake, ram, stallion
The (a) and (b) words are [+animate] and [+male].
The (a) words are [+human].
The (b) words are [+animal].
3. (a) table, pencil, cup, house, ship, car
(b) milk, tea, wine, beer, water, soft drink
The (a) and (b) words are [+inanimate] and
[+concrete].
The (a) words are [+solid].
The (b) words are [+liquid].
4. (a) book, temple, mountain, road, tractor
(b) idea, love, charity, sincerity, bravery, fear
The (a) and (b) words are [+inanimate].
The (a) words are [+concrete thing].
The (b) words are [+abstract notion].

5.(a) rose, lily, tulip, daisy, sunflower, violet


(b) ash (tần bì), oak (sồi), sycamore (sung dâu), willow
(liễu), beech (sồi)
(c) pine (thông), cedar (tuyết tùng), jew (thủy tùng),
spruce (vân sam), cypress (bách)
The (a) (b) and (c) words are [+plant].
The (a) words are [+flowering plant].
The (b) words are [+deciduous tree].
The (c) words are [+evergreen tree].
6. (a) ask, tell, say, talk, converse
(b) shout, whisper, mutter, drawl, holler
The (a) and (b) words are [+way of talking].
The (a) words are [+generic].
The (b) words are [+specific].

7. (a) lobster, shrimp, crab, oyster, mussel


(b) trout, sole, herring, salmon, mackerel
The (a) and (b) words are [+edible water animal].
The (a) words are [+shellfish].
The (b) words are [+fish].
Exercise 2B: Identify the semantic features in each of the
following words.

1. Aunt: [+human], [mature], [+female], [+father’s/mother’s sister (-


in-law)]
2. Hen: [+animate], [+bird], [+fowl], [+chicken], [+fully grown],
[+female]
3. Oak (-tree): [+plant], [+deciduous tree], [+tough hard wood],
[producing small nuts], [+common in northern coutries]
4. Flower: [+part of a plant], [+colored], [+usually good-
smelling], [+bloom/blossom], [+fruit or seed is developed]
5a. Palm: [+part of a hand], [+inner surface],
[+between the wrist and the fingers]
5b. Palm (-tree): [+plant], [+tree] [branches] [+a mass of
large wide leaves at the top], [+in warm or tropical climates]
6. Bachelor: [+human], [+mature], [+male], [+stay single]2
7. Actress: [+human], [+female], [+professionally artistic],
[+perform a role]
8. Plod: [+motion], [+walk], [+slowly and laboriously]
9. Ewe: [+animate], [+sheep], [+fully grown], [+female],
[+producing wool and meat]
10a. Fly: [+motion], [+through air or space],
[+fast], [+wings or a means of transport]
10b. Fly: [+animate], [+insect], [+two wings], [+in and around
houses]
11. Stallion: [+animate], [+horse], [+fully grown], [+male], [+for
breeding]
12. Doe: [+animate], [+deer, reindeer, rabbit or hare],
+fully grown], [+female]
13. Elm: [+plant], [+deciduous tree], [+large rough-edged
leaves], [+tough hard wood]
14. Chick: [+animate], [+bird], [+fowl], [fully grown], [+male]
15. Chick: [+animate], [+bird], [+fowl], [fully grown], [+male]
15. Pap: [+thing], [+food], [+soft or semi-liquid], [+for babies or
invalids]
16. Tiptoe: [+motion], [+walk], [+on toes], [+silently]
17. Pine (-tree): [+plant], [+evergreen tree], [+needle-
shaped leaves],[+pale soft wood]
18. Owe: [+state], [+be in debt], [+obligation/duty], [+pay/repay]
19. Honesty: [+abstract notion], [+virtue], [+trustfulness], [+hard
to evaluate]
20. Maid: [+human], [+mature], [+female], [+servant]
Exercise 2D: Explain the anomaly of each of the following
sentences.

1. Christopher is killing phonemes.

This sentence is semantically anomalous


because phonemes are [+inanimate], so that
they cannot be killed.

2. The tiger remained alive for an hour after the hunter killed
it.

This sentence is semantically anomalous


because no living organism can remain alive
after being killed. In fact, the tiger died right
at the moment the hunter killed it.

3. My brother is a spinster.

This sentence is semantically anomalous


because my brother is [+male] whereas a
spinster is [+female].

4. The boy swallowed the chocolate and then chewed it.

This sentence is semantically anomalous


because of the wrong order of the two verb
phrases — swallowed the chocolate and
chewed it.

5. Babies can lift one ton.

This sentence is semantically anomalous


because babies are [+young] and [-weak].
How can they lift a weight of 2,240 pounds in
Britain or of 2,000 pounds in the U.S.A.?

6. Puppies are human.

This sentence is semantically anomalous


because puppies are [+animal] and thus [ -
human].

7. My unmarried sister is married to a bachelor.

This sentence is semantically anomalous


because both my unmarried sister and a
bachelor are [+single], and thus they can’t be
husband and wife.

8. The bigger key and John opened the door.

This sentence is semantically anomalous


because its instrument (the bigger key) cannot
be conjoined with its agent (John).
9. James sliced the ideas.

This sentence is semantically anomalous


because the ideas are [+abstract notion]
while only concrete things that are long,
round, and soft enough like a sausage or a
tomato can be sliced.

10. Jack’s courage chewed the bones.

This sentence is semantically anomalous


because Jack’s courage is [+abstract notion],
and thus it could not chew anything.

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