2.5.3 More semantic terminology
Beyond what we already described are important terms within the study of semantics you should be aware of.
Synonymy: This word literally translates to “sameness of meaning” and is the root of the word “synonym.” As we displayed in our discussion of connotation, however, while two words can be synonyms, they do not necessarily mean the same thing. If two words meant exactly the same thing, then one would be extraneous. Synonyms are necessary because they represent the detail and specificity of the English language.
Hyponymy: This term literally translates to “inclusion of meaning” and essentially refers to words that belong in groups. A fork is a hyponym of silverware because it is a member of the silverware group.
Antonymy: This term literally translates to “oppositeness of meaning,” which means that antonyms are meant to be opposites. It is very difficult to find an exact antonym for most words, however, so words are often paired up because they’re close to being antonyms, much like how synonyms have similar but not exact meanings.
Incompatibility: This term literally translates to “mutual exclusiveness within the same subordinate category,” which means that it refers to two members of a group that are different entities. For example, cats and dogs are both animals, so they would fit under the purview of this term.
Homonymy: This is a term that refers to when two words sound the same even though they have different meanings. These can be especially confusing to new language learners because they require a strong idea of context to identify. A good example of a group of homonyms is “there,” “their,” and “they’re.”
Polysemy: This term refers to when a word has more than one meaning. This is different from a homonym because the spelling of the word does not change depending on the meaning. For example, the word “close” can refer to two items that are in near proximity to each other, or it can refer to something being shut.
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