SEMANTICS
Semantics is the study of meaning. It is a wide subject within the general study of language. An understanding of semantics is essential to the study of language acquisition (how language users acquire a sense of meaning, as speakers and writers, listeners and readers) and of language change (how meanings alter over time). It is important for understanding language in social contexts, as these are likely to affect meaning, and for understanding varieties of English and effects of style. It is thus one of the most fundamental concepts in linguistics. The study of semantics includes the study of how meaning is constructed, interpreted, clarified, obscured, illustrated, simplified negotiated, contradicted and paraphrased
According to Lyons (1977), Semantics is the study
of meaning. Semantics is the study of meaning in language Hurford & Heasley
The (1983). Semantics is the study of meaning communicated through language
Saeed (2003). Semantics is the part of linguistics that is concerned with
meaning Löbner (2002). Linguistic semantics is the study of how languages
organize and express meanings (Kreidler, 1998). (Sutrisno, 2012)
Nowadays, there are two ways of approaching
semantics. The formal semantics approach connects with classical philosophical
semantics, that is, logic. It should not be forgotten that semantics was a part
of philosophy for many centuries. Formal semantics tries to describe the
meaning of language using the descriptive apparatus of formal logic. The goal
is to describe natural language in a formal, precise, unambiguous way. Related
(though not identical) denominations for this type of semantics are
truth-conditional semantics, model-theoretic semantics, logical semantics, etc.
The other approach to semantics we could call
psychologically-oriented semantics or cognitive semantics. This approach does
not consider the logical structure of language as important for the description
of the meaning of language, and tends to disregard notions such as truth-values
or strict compositionality. Cognitive semantics tries to explain semantic
phenomena by appealing to biological, psychological and even cultural issues.
They are less concerned with notions of reference and try to propose
explanations that will fit with everything that we know about cognition,
including perception and the role of the body in the structuring of meaning
structures.
Some important areas
of semantic theory or related subjects include these:
Symbol
and Referent
These terms may
clarify the subject. A symbol is something which we use to represent another
thing - it might be a picture, a letter, a spoken or written word - anything we
use conventionally for the purpose. The thing that the symbol identifies is the
referent. This may sometimes be an object in the physical world (the word Rover
is the symbol; a real dog is the referent). But it may be something which is
not at all, or not obviously, present - like freedom, unicorns or Hamlet.
A symbol is an object that is used to symbolize or
refer to a referent. A referent is an object that is symbolized or referred to
by a
symbol. An object is anything with qualities, or
more accurately a quality
set. A nothing is an object with no qualities, an
empty quality set. A something is an object with some qualities, a non empty
quality
set. Symbols and referents are two different objects that are used to refer to each other.
Euphemism
A euphemism is a polite expression used in place of words or phrases that otherwise might be considered harsh or unpleasant to hear. Euphemisms are used regularly, and there are many examples in every day language.
Types of Euphemisms
To Soften an
Expression
Some euphemisms are used in order to make a blunt or unpleasant truth seem less harsh. Examples of euphemisms that fall into this category include:
- Passed away instead of died
- Correctional facility instead of jail
- Departed instead of died
- Differently-abled instead of handicapped or disabled
- Fell off the back of a truck instead of stolen
- Ethnic cleansing instead of genocide
- Turn a trick instead of engage in prostitution
- Negative patient outcome instead of dead
- Relocation center instead of prison camp
- Collateral damage instead of accidental deaths
- Letting someone go instead of firing someone
- Put to sleep instead of euthanize
- Pregnancy termination instead of abortion
- On the streets instead of homeless
To Be Polite
Other
euphemisms are used to take the place of words or phrases you might not want to
say in polite company.
Examples
of euphemisms that fall into this category include:
- Adult entertainment instead of pornography
- Adult beverages instead of beer or liquor
- Au natural instead of naked
- Big-boned instead of heavy or overweight
- Portly instead of heavy or overweight
- Chronologically-challenged instead of late
- Comfort woman instead of prostitute
- Use the rest room instead of go to the bathroom
- Break wind instead of pass gas
- Economical with the truth instead of liar
- Powder your nose instead of use the rest room
- The birds and the bees instead of sex
- Between jobs instead of unemployed
- Go all the way instead of have sex
- Domestic engineer instead of maid
- Sanitation engineer instead of garbage man
- Vertically-challenged instead of short
- Sleep together instead of have sex
Euphemisms to be Impolite
In
some cases, euphemisms are intentionally a grosser or less pleasant way of
saying something. These are usually used when people are being sarcastic or
trying to make light of a serious subject or make it seem less serious.
Examples
include:
- Batting for the other side instead of homosexual
- Bit the big one instead of died
- Bit the farm instead of died
- Cement shoes instead of dead
- Bit the dust instead of died
- Croaked instead of dead
- Kick the bucket instead of die
- Blow chunks instead of vomited
- Hide the sausage instead of sex
- Making whoopee instead of sex
- Well-hung instead of having a large penis
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