Synonymy In English

1.

1.Semantic similarity and synonymy
2. The problem of the Definition and
Criteria of Synonyms
3. Classification of synonyms
4. Synonymic Groups

2.

Semantic Similarity and Synonymy
All lexical units may be classified and grouped by
the criterion of semantic similarity.
The more developed the language the richer this
diversity, the greater the possibilities of
expressing the effectiveness and precision of
speech.
By the very nature of the language every word has
its own history, its own peculiar motivation, its
own typical contexts.
The type of semantic relations is called synonymy.
Synonymy is one of the most controversial
problems in modern linguistics.

3.

The Problem of the Definition and
Criteria of Synonyms
Synonyms are traditionally described as words
different in sound form but identical or similar in
meaning.
This definition was criticized on many points.
1. It is possible to speak of identical or similar
meanings of words as such because it cannot be
applied to polysemantic words:
eg. to look – 1) see, watch, observe; 2) seem, appear; 3)
search; 4)care of etc.

4.

The Problem of the Definition and
Criteria of Synonyms
2. It is possible to speak of identity or
similarity of lexical meaning as a whole
because it is only the denotational
component that may be identical or similar.
The second component, the connotational
one, may be entirely different: eg. to die –
to pass away.

5.

The Problem of the Definition and
Criteria of Synonyms
3. It is impossible to speak of identity of meaning
because identity of meaning is very rare even among
monosemantic words. Usually cases of complete
synonymy are in terminology: spirant – fricative.
The criterion of similarity of meaning is one of
the criteria of synonymity of words.
Other linguists introduce the criterion of
interchangeability of linguistic contexts (St. Ullmann).

6.

The Problem of the Definition and
Criteria of Synonyms
The definition of synonyms proceeding from contextual
approach is as follows:
Synonyms are words which can replace each other in any
given context without the slightest alteration in the
denotational and connotational meanings.
But the definition was also criticized: 1. there are no
complete synonyms and words cannot be completely
interchangeable. Words synonymous in some contexts may
not be synonymous in other contexts.
2. Interchangeability alone can not be the critetrion of
synonymity. Quite different words may be interchangeable
in the same context.

7.

The Problem of the Definition and
Criteria of Synonyms
Both the criteria should be taken into classification
when giving the definition of synonyms:
Synonyms are words different in their sound-form but
similar in their denotational meanings and
interchangeable at least in some contexts (K.S. Jones,
Yu. Apresyan, V. Vilyuman).
Synonyms belong to the same part of speech because
synonymic grouping is a special case of lexicogrammatical grouping based on semantic proximity of
words: move – go, beautiful – nice, work- labour, onupon, since – as.

8.

Classification of Synonyms
The traditional approach ws worked out by V.V.
Vinogradov.
There are three types of synonyms:
1. Ideographic - words conveying the same notion but
differing in shades of meaning.
2. Stylistic – words differing in stylistic characteristics,
and
3. Absolute – words coinciding in all their shades of
meaning and stylistic characteristics.

9.

Classification of Synonyms
Cases of complete or absolute synonyms are very rare,
usually among terms. Absolute synonymy is anomalous
and temporary.
The interrelation of the denotational and connotational
meanings of synonyms is rather complex.
Difference in the connotational semantic component is
accompanied by difference of the denotational meaning of
synonyms.
Synonyms are further subdivided into: 1. purely
ideographic or denotational synonyms: to look – see, gazepeep – glare. 2. Ideographic-stylistic synonyms: father-daddaddy; begin – commence.

10.

Synonymic groups
Synonyms are usually arranged into synonymic groups
or sets.
Each synonymic group has its dominant element.
The synonymic dominant is the most general term of
its kind containing the specific features: to move – go,
run, walk, step.
The dominant synonym should be: 1. of high
frequency, 2. of broad combinability, 3. of broad
general meaning, 4. neutral, with lack of stylistic and
emotional connotations.

11.

Synonymic groups
The synonymic dominant should not be
confused with a generic term: animal – dog,
wolf, mouse.
This type of paradigmatic relations is called
hyponymy or inclusion. Synonymy differs
from hyponymy being a symmetrical relation:
i.e. if A is a synonym of B than B is a synonym
of A.
In hyponymy it is not possible, i.e. B is always
A, but A is not always B.

12.

Sources of Synonyms
The English word-stock is extremely rich in synonyms.
1. BORROWINGS. A great number of synonyms were
brought into English from different languages (O.
Jespersen).
2. synonymic differentiation, when archaic or
obsolete words survived with a meaning more or less
removed from the original one (M. Breal).
3. synonymic attraction, when the referents
prominent in the interests of a speech community
tend to attract a large number of synonyms: money –
beans, bucks, chips, do-re-me.

13.

Sources of Synonyms
4. radiation of synonyms – a particular word is given a
transferred meaning its synonyms tend to develop along
parallel lines: overlook – oversee (deceive)
5. Variants and dialects: Sc. Girl – lass, charm-glamour,
radio – wireless, long-distance telephone call – trunk call.
6. Word-building: popular song – pop (song), vegetables –
veg, anxiety – anxiousness, wait – await, laughter – laugh,
commandment – command.
7. Set expressions: to continue – to go on, to return – to
come back, to smoke – to have a smoke, to – love – to fall in
love.
8. euphemism – it is a shift of an unpleasant meaning of a
word for a more pleasant or milder: drunk – merry, naked –
in one’s birthday suit.

14.

15.

BORROWINGS
Native
French
Ask
question
Gather
assemble
End
finish
Rise
mount
Teaching
guidance
Latin
interrogate
collect
complete
ascend
instruction