Module 2: Linguistics
2.5 Semantics
We have successfully worked our way up to understanding how sentences are structured, and now it is time to discuss words again, but this time we will look at the connotative and complex meanings that they carry. Semantics is a branch of linguistics that involves the study of words and their meanings.
2.5.1 Theories of semantics
Typically, the concept of semantics is divided into three theories of semantics: formal semantics, lexical semantics, and conceptual semantics. Each of these types of semantics delves into the true meanings of words and will help your students understand the intricacies of the English language.
Formal semantics: Formal semantics is a very mathematical theory that strives to understand the meaning of words by forming exact mathematical principles and ideals that speakers and writers can use. People who subscribe to the formal semantics theory look for the relationship between how language forms and the world in which it forms to try to understand how people create meaningful discourse.
Lexical semantics: Lexical semantics is a theory that the meaning of a word is understood by looking at its context. In this way, sentences can be broken down into semantic constituents or words and phrases that carry meaning and context. This theory promotes the analysis of how words and phrases play off each other to build meaning.
Conceptual semantics: Conceptual semantics is a theory that highlights the importance of the internal structure of words. Theorists believe that the best way to understand the meaning of a word in a sentence is to look at the word itself, its internal structure, and how it combines different, smaller elements.
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