文档介绍：Unit 6
Word Meaning and Semantic Relations
John Lyons gives us ten sentences to discuss what meaning is:
1)What is the meaning of
“sesquipedalian?”
(signify)
2)I did not mean to hurt you
(intend)
3)He never says what he means.
(suggesting the possibility of saying one thing and meaning another.)
4)She rarely means what she says.
(suggesting the possibility of saying one thing and meaning another.)
5)Life without faith has no meaning.
(significance, value)
6)what do you mean by the word”concept”?
(intend to say)
7)He means well but he is rather
clumsy.
(intends)
8)Fame and richness mean nothing to
the true scholar.
(have no significance for)
9) Dark clouds mean rain.
(are a sign of)
10)It was John I meant nor Harry.
(have in mind)
Semantics refers not only to word meaning but also to sentence meaning.
.
1) His typewriter has bad intentions.
Anomalous
2)my unmarried sister is married to a bachelor.
contradictory
3)John was looking for the glasses.
Ambiguous
4)a. The needle is too short.
B. The needle is not long enough.
synonymous
5) of the students were
unable to answer your
question.
B. Only a few students grasped
your question.
(The meaning of one sentence follows from the other.)
6) a. How long did Archibald
remain in Monte Carlo?
B. Archibald remained in Monte
Carlo for some time.
(the first implies the second.)