Subject: SEMANTICS

Narrator: Devie, Maxime

Supporting Actors: Raver, Keziah

Editor/Cinematographer: Jake, Raver

Production: ALL

Concept/Direction: Keziah, Maxime

Let’s start with a simple sentence:

“Sarah painted the wall.”
In small level the sentence composes of Sounds, and the words create phrases and then combined to
create a sentence.
ALL OF THESE COMPONENTS COMBINED TOGETHER TO CREATE LANGUAGE.
FOR REVIEW:
LANGUAGE is divided into 3 basic components
1. Sounds: which are compose of Phonetics and Phonology which are the branch of linguistics that
studies sound
2. Form: Words (Morphology) Phrases and clauses (Syntax)
3. Meaning: come about basically about sentence level of above sentence level, the Semantics and
Pragmatics

 The meaning of language in Semantics can be categorized as Denotative and Connotative.

 Denotation – refers to the primary literal meaning or the dictionary meaning if a word, remains the
same regardless of culture and personal experiences
Example:
House: The denotation is a building where people live.
 Connotation - refers to the personal and cultural meanings in addition to their primary, literal
meaning of a word
Writers and lyricists often heavily rely on connotation to elicit emotional responses from their readers
or listeners.
Snake:
D: a long, legless reptile.
C: might include fear or danger due to how snakes are often portrayed in stories and media.
Red Rose
D: I a red flower bore by a thorny shrub
C. symbol of love and desire.

Hence, denotation is the literal meaning of a word or a phrase

And connotation is the figurative meaning or interpretation of a word or phrase.

So, Semantics deals on HOW meaning works in language, how the way in which words are put together
that creates meaning.

Semantics explores how the meanings of words can be interconnected, emphasizing the significance of
understanding word relationships, specifically:
1. Synonymy – words that have similar meanings; they can be used interchangeably in many
contexts without changing the overall meaning of a sentence.

Examples:
Happy and joyful are synonyms because they both convey the idea of being pleased or content.
Big and large are synonyms as they both refer to something of considerable size.
Fast and quick are synonyms, both describing a high rate of speed.
2. Antonymy - words that have opposite meanings. Using antonyms in a sentence can create
contrast and highlight differences.
Examples:
Hot and cold are antonyms because one represents high temperature, while the other represents
low temperature.
Happy and sad are antonyms, expressing opposing emotional states.
Empty and full are antonyms, describing the absence or presence of something.
 3. Polysemy - phenomenon where a single word has multiple related meanings or senses, often
arising from a common core concept.
Examples:
Bank can mean a financial institution, the side of a river, or the act of tilting or inclining. These
meanings are related because they all involve the idea of a slope or incline.
Bat can refer to a piece of sports equipment used in baseball or a flying mammal. These
meanings are related through their association with the shape or appearance of a bat.
4. Homophony - when two or more words sound the same or very similar but have different
meanings and may be spelled differently.
Examples:
Two (the number 2) and too (meaning also or very) sound the same but have distinct meanings
and uses.
Write (to put words on paper) and right (opposite of left or correct) are homophones as well, even
though they have different meanings.
“After the words are combined, phrases or sentence forms.”

“Hence it is also important to know the relationship between sentences as they can be semantically
related to one-another in a few different ways.”
Once words are combined into phrases or sentences, it becomes crucial to understand the connections
between sentences, as they can exhibit various forms of semantic relationships with each other.
1. Paraphrase - refers to expressing the same meaning or idea in different words or phrases. It
involves rephrasing a sentence or text while retaining the original meaning.

Original Sentence: "K-pop has gained immense popularity worldwide due to its catchy music
and charismatic performers."

Paraphrase: "K-pop's global appeal has surged thanks to its infectious melodies and captivating
artists."

2. Mutual Entailment - occurs when two statements or sentences imply each other, meaning that if
one is true, the other must also be true. It's a bidirectional relationship of logical implication.

Statement 1 (Anime): "Anime conventions host cosplay competitions."

Statement 2 (Anime Fans): "Fans attend conventions for cosplay."

In this case, both statements mutually entail each other because the first statement implies that
cosplay competitions are part of anime conventions, and the second statement implies that fans
go to conventions for cosplay.

3. Asymmetrical Entailment – “only one of the sentences must be true for the other to be true, but
that sentence may be true without the other sentence necessarily having to be true.”

Statement 1 (Social Media Users): "Many people use social media platforms daily."

Statement 2 (Social Media Addiction): "Excessive use of social media can lead to addiction."

In this case, Statement 1 implies Statement 2 (social media users can potentially become
addicted to it), but Statement 2 does not necessarily imply Statement 1 (not all social media users
are addicted; some may use it moderately). This illustrates an asymmetrical entailment
relationship between the two statements related to social media.

4. Contradiction - a situation where two statements or sentences cannot both be true at the same
time because they have opposing meanings or ideas.

Statement 1 (Climate Change Impact): "Scientific evidence overwhelmingly supports that

human activities contribute to climate change."

Statement 2 (Climate Change Denial): "Some individuals claim that climate change is a natural
phenomenon unrelated to human actions."

In this case, Statement 1 asserts the widely accepted view that human activities contribute to
 climate change, while Statement 2 contradicts it by suggesting that climate change is not caused
by human actions but is instead a natural occurrence. This represents a contradiction regarding
the role of humans in climate change.

Ambiguity
Ambiguity is a key aspect of language meaning. A sentence becomes ambiguous when it can be
interpreted in multiple ways. This ambiguity can arise in sentences for the following reasons:

A. Lexical Ambiguity
“A sentence is lexically ambiguous when it can have two or more possible meanings due to
polysemous (words that have 2 or more related meanings) or homophonous (a single words which
has a two or more different meanings) words.”
Example:
"She handed him the torch."

In this sentence, the word "torch" is lexically ambiguous because it has multiple possible meanings:

Literal Meaning: She gave him a handheld light source, like a flashlight or a flaming torch used for
illumination.
Figurative Meaning: She passed on the responsibility or role to him, as in "passing the torch," which
means transferring a task or duty to someone else.

The word "torch" has two distinct meanings here, leading to potential confusion or multiple
interpretations of the sentence based on its context.

B. Structural Ambiguity
“A sentence is structurally ambiguous if it can have two or more possible meanings due to the
words it contains being able to be combined in different ways which create different meanings.”
Example:
"Visiting relatives can be a nuisance."

In this sentence, the structural ambiguity arises from the phrase "visiting relatives." It can be interpreted
in two different ways:

Visiting (verb) relatives (noun): This interpretation suggests that the act of visiting relatives can be a
nuisance, implying that when you visit your relatives, it can be bothersome or inconvenient.

Visiting (adjective) relatives (noun): In this interpretation, "visiting" is an adjective describing the type
of relatives you have. It implies that relatives who are visiting can be a nuisance, suggesting that when
your relatives come to visit you, they can be bothersome.

The structural ambiguity in this sentence demonstrates how the same words can be arranged in different
ways, leading to different meanings and interpretations.

Hence, Semantics draws upon related linguistic subfields like Morphology to explore the essence of
words, since comprehending words is crucial in understanding their meaning. Additionally, Semantics
heavily relies on syntax to uncover how meaning is constructed in language, as the structure of language
plays a fundamental role in shaping meaning.

Semantics examines language relationships and the process of meaning creation, a vital aspect of
comprehending language as a whole. This understanding can benefit subfields like Language Acquisition
in studying how speakers grasp meaning and Sociolinguistics, as it pertains to language in social
contexts where meaning is essential.
Lastly, semantics helps ensure that communication is clear, meaningful, and free from ambiguity. It
allows people to share and understand information accurately in various contexts, contributing to
effective communication in everyday life.
“Connotation vs. Denotation - Clear the Confusion | Learn English.” Https://Www.learngrammar.net/,
www.learngrammar.net/a/connotation-vs-denotation-clear-the-confusion.

Dr. Nimer Abusalim. “SEMANTICS-1: What Is Semantics?” YouTube, 18 Sept. 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?
v=MlRNrSajB-0.

“Difference between Connotation and Denotation.” Pediaa.com, 18 Feb. 2016, pediaa.com/difference-between-connotation-

and-denotation/.

“The Hidden Meaning behind Taylor Swift’s Most Famous Lyrics.” DIRECTV Insider, 30 May 2023,
www.directv.com/insider/the-hidden-meaning-behind-taylor-swifts-most-famous-lyrics/.

NOTE: The reporters do not claim the ownership of the topics or lessons they cover, and all
information gathered belongs to the rightful owners.

The intention of this video is only to inform.