What are the types of meaning based on Leech's theory?

Semantics is concerned with aspects of meaning. Dealing with the meaning can be
categorized into some references. According to Leech (1981, p. 9), meaning is classified
into seven types, namely:

1. Conceptual Meaning
Denotative meaning and cognitive meaning are other terms for conceptual meaning. It
encompasses a word’s inherent dictionary definition and the basic ideas or concepts it
represents. Conceptual meaning is relatively stable and consistent across different
contexts.
Example: The conceptual meaning of the word “cat” refers to a small domesticated
mammal with fur, sharp claws, and a propensity for catching rodents. This meaning
remains largely the same in different contexts.

2. Connotative Meaning
Connotative meaning, or connotation, refers to the additional, often emotional or
cultural associations that a word carries beyond its explicit or denotative meaning.
These associations can vary among individuals or communities and can be positive,
negative, or neutral. Thus, the connotative meaning of the stated word can be any of the
referent’s characteristics.
Example: The word “snake” has various connotations for different people. Some might
associate it with danger, fear, or deception because of cultural stories and stereotypes
related to snakes. Others might view it more neutrally or even positively, considering the
snake as a symbol of transformation or healing in certain cultural contexts.

3. Collocative Meaning
It is a type of meaning associated with the tendency of certain words to occur together
or collocate with other words in a language. In other words, collocative meaning relates
to the specific patterns of word combinations that words tend to form, which can
provide additional information and shades of meaning beyond the individual meanings
of the words themselves.
Example: Consider the word “strong” and its collocative patterns:
Collocative Pattern 1: “Strong coffee”
In this context, “strong” collocates with “coffee” to convey that the coffee has a robust,
intense flavor or is highly concentrated in its taste.
Collocative Pattern 2: “Strong wind”
Here, “strong” collocates with “wind” to indicate that the wind is powerful or forceful in
speed or intensity.
Collocative Pattern 3: “Strong support”
In this case, “strong” collocates with “support” to suggest that the support is
substantial, unwavering, or reliable.

4. Affective Meaning
It is related to the emotional or attitudinal associations of words and expressions. It
encompasses the feelings, sentiments, or emotional nuances that words can convey.
Example: Let us consider the word “fire” and its affective meaning:
The word “fire” can carry various affective meanings based on context. In some
contexts, it might evoke positive emotions like warmth, coziness, and comfort when
associated with a fireplace in a cozy setting. However, in other contexts, it can have
negative affective meanings, such as fear, destruction, and danger, when associated
with a raging forest or house fire.
In this example, the affective meaning of “fire” is influenced by people’s emotional
associations with different situations involving fire. It can convey positive and negative
emotions, demonstrating how affective meaning can vary depending on context and
personal experiences.

5. Social Meaning
The aspect of meaning pertains to the social relationships, roles, and power structures
conveyed through language. It encompasses the way language reflects societal norms,
attitudes, and hierarchies.
Example: Consider the use of language in addressing someone of higher social status,
like a boss or a professor, versus someone of equal or lower social status:
Social Meaning in Language Address: When addressing a professor or a boss,
individuals often use formal language and titles such as “Dr. Smith” or “Mr. Johnson.”
This formality reflects the social meaning of respect and recognition of the person’s
higher social status or expertise.
Social meaning plays a crucial role in how people interact with one another and how
language reflects the intricacies of society.

6. Reflected Meaning
It is the aspect of meaning that arises when a word or expression is used in a particular
context, and it reflects the speaker’s subjective attitudes, emotions, or beliefs. The
meaning is suggested or implied by the context in which a word is used.
Example: Consider the word “bright” and how its reflected meaning can vary in different
contexts:
Denotative (conceptual) Meaning: The denotative meaning of “bright” refers to
something that emits much light or is well-illuminated. For example, “The sun is bright
today.”
Reflected Meaning – Context 1: In a different context, like describing someone as
“bright,” it may reflect the speaker’s opinion about their intelligence or quick thinking. For
instance, “She is a bright student” suggests someone is intelligent or clever.
Reflected Meaning – Context 2: In a conversational context about a future event or
someone’s prospects, saying, “His future looks bright”, may reflect the speaker’s positive
outlook or optimism about that person’s potential for success. Here, the word “bright”
carries a reflected meaning related to promise or optimism.
The word “bright” takes on additional meaning in both contexts based on the context
and the speaker’s attitude or belief about the subject. In the first case, it reflects
intelligence; in the second, it reflects optimism about the future.

7. Thematic Meaning
Thematic meaning, in Leech’s framework, concerns how words and elements in a
sentence are arranged to indicate the central theme or topic of the sentence. It focuses
on how words assume roles like “theme” and “rheme” to establish the flow and
organization of information in a sentence.
Example: Consider the sentence: “The cat chased the mouse.”
In this sentence, there is a clear thematic structure:
Theme: “The cat” serves as the theme of the sentence. The sentence’s central element
provides the action’s topic or subject.
Theme: “Chased the mouse” is the theme, providing additional information about what
the cat did. It completes the action initiated by the theme.
This thematic structure helps to organize the information in the sentence, making it
clear that the sentence is primarily about the cat and what it did (chasing the mouse).
The thematic structure also indicates the direction of the information flow, with the
theme introducing the topic and the theme providing more details or elaboration.
Thematic meaning is crucial in sentence comprehension because it helps readers or
listeners identify a sentence’s main topic or focus and understand the relationships
between different parts. It plays a role in the natural flow of information and contributes
to language’s overall coherence and clarity.