Philological sciences/4.
Syntax: Structure, Semantics, Function
Iryna Bondaruk
Semantics
refers to the aspects of meaning that are expressed in
a language, code, or other form of representation. Semantics is contrasted with
two other aspects of meaningful expression, namely, syntax, the construction of
complex signs from simpler signs, and pragmatics, the practical use of signs by
agents or communities of interpretation in particular circumstances and
contexts. By the usual convention that calls a study or a theory by the name of
its subject matter, semantics may also denote a theoretical study of meaning in
the systems of signs.
The semantic field is a complicated functional unit of lexico-semantic
level. The elements of the semantic field are the words which have their own
semantic structure. Lexical meanings of words (seme) form the basis of the
relations in the semantic field. The correlation between the
elements of the semantic field are revealed as the relation of identity
and opposition. These relations between the lexical meanings of words are
accomplished with the help of the smallest and indivisible lexical meanings.
That is why the lexical meanings are basic notions in the analysis of elements
and units of the lexico-semantic level.
Lexical meaning of the word emerges as the result
of reflection in human’s consciousness separated and generalized part of
reality. It never exists separate and is always connected by semantic relations
with lexical meaning of another word or lexical meanings of several words. Thus,
lexical meaning of separate word is never isolated.
One
must describe the meaning of word with the help of seme
quantity. This quantity depends on parts of speech. For verbs the quantity of semes may refer to the quantity of questions,
that are put to the word: what is the action? Who is the doer of the
action? What is the result? etc. The questions about
the character and the aim of the action are obligatory, as any action is
performed with some certain aim, the other questions are not compulsory. Their
assignment is to describe in detail the meaning of the lexeme, showing also
secondary features.
The research of verbs of physical ability in
English, which form separate lexico-semantic group and have its individual
semantic features, demand discrete detailed study.
The verb selection was accomplished from the explanatory dictionary “New
Webster’s Dictionary and Thesaurus of the English Language” ,
and those verbs were chosen, which have
in its content structure the seme
“physical ability”.
In the result of the research of the lexico-semantic
group of verbs, the semantic pecularities were established, the main of which was
the multiaspect of physical ability manifestation.
The lexico-semantic group of verbs of physical
ability is a semantic set, which may be qualified as a microsystem with
complicated structural organization. The seme “physical ability” is a central
seme of the field, from which a lot of microfields with variant meanings come
out [ 1; 51].
We can divide the verbs of physical ability at least in two groups:
-
those, which are inherent to people,
animals ( e.g. to run, to jump, to dance, to move, to turn, to swarm, to
snuggle);
-
and
those, which are inherent to inanimate nature ( e.g. to impose, to ring, to boil,
to zoom, etc.)
On this level we can observe some pecularity which lies in impossibility
to make a distinct distribution between verbs: there is a certain group of
verbs, which one may refer as to the first group as well as to the second. The
action may be performed by inanimate and by animate objects: to slup, to
freeze, to bath.
The
investigation shows, that there are more verbs of such “mixed type” as compared
“pure” ones.
Thus, we can explain the peculiarity of verbs of physical ability, which
is reflected in the intersection and correlation of semantic microfields [1;11]. Most elements of lexico-semantic group of verbs of
physical ability have in their structure individual and additional semes. For
such verbs a connection of semantic element “slowly” and “quickly” with
“physical ability” is typical: e.g. to dash, to crawl, to drag, to blunder.
So, the distribition of verbs according to different groups and
microfields was made on the principle of hierarchy of the sementic features,
beginning with more abstract and common to more concrete.
The element of lexico-semantic group of verbs of physical ability of the
English language demonstrate the intersection with lexical units of such fields
as visual ability, physical dimensions, means of conveyance, etc.
References:
1.
Áèñòðîâà Ë.Â. Âèâ÷åííÿ ñèíòàãìàòè÷íèõ çâÿçê³â ñë³â çà äîïîìîãîþ ñòàòèñòè÷íèõ
ìåòîä³â // Ìîâîçíàâñòâî. – 1978. – ¹4. – Ñ.44-48
2.
Ìóñóð³âñüêà Î.Â. Ìåòîäè ³íâåíòàðèçàö³¿
ëåêñèêî-ñåìàíòè÷íèõ ãðóï.//Íàóêîâèé â³ñíèê ×åðí³âåöüêîãî óí³âåðñèòåòó. Âèï.1.
Ãåðìàíñüêà ô³ëîëîã³ÿ: Çá³ðíèê íàóê. ïðàöü.- ×åðí³âö³: ×ÄÓ, 1996.-Ñ.43-51.
3.
New Webster’s Dictionary and
Thesaurus of the English Language.- Lexicon
Publications, Inc.,