Chapter 6
Lexical Semantics
Exercise 6.1Traditional Semantics
Consult a number of dictionaries on the meaning of the word hero. Then consider the meaning of the word in contemporary usage (in magazines, newspapers, and casual conversation). Does the dictionary meaning reflect the current meaning, or would you say that the meaning has changed and that dictionaries have not kept pace with this change?
Some dictionaries list the meaning of decimate as ‘kill or remove one in every ten of’, while most speakers of English would argue that it means ‘destroy a large proportion of’. How do you account for this discrepancy?
For the following words, explain the background or contextual information which is necessary to understand the meaning of the word.
reconcile
generous
procrastinate
patient
reputation
Discuss the following expressions in respect to the concepts of extention and intension:
the instructor of Linguistics 101
the day before yesterday
the capital of Brazil
A hero is generally defined as a person who exhibits extraordinary bravery or greatness of soul and who is admired for his or her achievements and noble qualities. Furthermore, this bravery is usually in the face of danger and is selfless. Does this definition seem to coincide with the use of the word in contexts such as “sports hero”? How would the definition need to be modified?
The meaning derives from the meaning of the Latin word which forms the basis of decimate, namely decimare ‘take the tenth man’ (from the root meaning ‘ten’; cf. decimal).
reconcile: once there was a friendly relationship between two or more parties; something happened to create a rift or distancing; now this rift has healed (through some action of the parties) and they are once more close.
generous: describes a person who is willing to give or share; this giving or sharing is perhaps above the norm of what is expected; this quality is considered a virtue or a sign of nobility of character.
procrastinate: describes the tendency to put off something or delay in doing something; the thing delayed is unpleasant in some way but is deemed necessary or is expected; procrastination is often habitual and is seen as resulting from carelessness or laziness; hence, procrastinating is judged negatively or is seen as a character defect.
patient: describes the quality of enduring or bearing something with equanimity or calmness; this something is unpleasant (pain, difficulty, deprivation, etc.) but unavoidable; patience is seen as a positive characteristic, a virtue.
reputation: describes the quality of being well (or ill) thought of; this recognition must be generally acknowledged and must be the result of actions over an extended period of time.
The phrase “the instructor of Linguistics 101” has a single intension, but different extensions, as different people may teach this course from year to year or even in any given year.
The phrase “the day before yesterday” has a single intension as well, but the actual day referred to differs depending upon which day this phrase is spoken.
The phrase “the capital of Brazil” has a single intension, but in fairly recent history the extension has changed – from Rio de Janeiro to Brasília.