Ways through Which Meaning Change over Time - Essay Example

Semantics Name Date Course Semantics Introduction Semantic is a term in linguistics that is mainly concerned with the study of meaning and linguistics expressions either within complex or simple terms that is engaged in separation. In addition semantics accounts for the system through which utterances are assigned several types of meaning. Thus the meaning of a particular expression is engaged in concrete form of contextual system of utterances that is further linked to expression meaning. Hence lexical semantics involves the field of theory regarding meaning whereby meaning as a form of lexical item is identified through a form of lexical entry. Therefore the essay aims at discussing semantics in relation to lexical items and the variation in terms of meaning (Rodd et.al. 2004). Ways through which meaning change over time Lexical semantic is regarded a field within the broader linguistic semantics field. It therefore involves the study of how words that are engaged in the process of language refer in terms of their meanings and how their meanings are varied. Hence certain word within the process of language may be considered to refer to various worlds of concepts through various approaches to lexical semantics. In this case lexical semantics involves the process of arrangement and disintegration of meanings within words. The variation and resemblances in lexical semantic system in varied forms of languages together with the association of meaning of words to sentence meaning and composition. Lexical semantics in this case seeks to discover the meaning of a lexical unit within which it is established through the process of searching for the words that has its occurrence in the natural form of sentences (Fillmore & Atkins 2000). The examination of lexemes that are considered to possess similar or varied lexical entry involves the use of phenomena such as synonymy, antonym, hyponymy and hyponymy and to a particular degree of homonymy are items that are used. Ambiguity is a term that is engaged in general terms. Therefore an expression whether it is simple or complex or any form of utterance is regarded as ambiguous if possess more than a single likely meaning. Homographs involve words that contain a similar ortographic system but not necessarily a similar style of pronunciation and varied unconnected meanings of the words. For example the word lead can used as denoting the metal and lead used in form of a verb. Other examples include wind/wind among others. Homophones or homophony involves words that contain a similar phonological form or pronunciation but not necessarily a similar spelling. Examples of these words include flower/flour, pear/pair, rowed/rode among other words. Polysemy involves words with more than one meaning or words comprising of diverse forms of meanings within its context. In this case the original meaning of a lexeme may occasionally persist but also joined with other fresh meanings within the context of the word. Therefore in such circumstances a single lexeme has various related senses that in most cases may be developed over a period of time. Examples include run, foot and mouth. The relationship between polysemy and homonymy needs to be addressed through the use of linguistics semantics. Hence the idea of polysemy has elevated a major theoretical issue on the methodology to be used in the process of distinguishing polysemy from homonymy. A major criterion that can be engaged in the process of distinguishing between polysemy and homonymy has been suggested in form of etymology. The process of etymology plays an important role in distinguishing between a polysemy and homonymy. This is due to the fact that homonyms are developed traditionally form dual unconnected words although there is a transformation in form of sound the words unintentionally possess a similar phonological shape. For instance ear is a word that can be engaged as a part of the body while at the same time it can be used to mean different things at the same time. In lexical semantics ambiguity occurs in the context of both sentences and utterances. Ambiguity can occur as a result of various reasons in semantics. The reasons for ambiguity involves the fact that one or more words within a given sentence with a varied form of meaning within the sentence (Rodd et.al. 2004). In semantics there is need for a general understanding in terms of meaning. Therefore in order to know that the meaning of a particular item has undergone some form of transformation it is important to understand their meanings first. Linguistic expressions are generally meaningful in their orientation as they are linked to the elements of the actual world in a form that is considered as objective. Semantic components are important in the description of meanings within linguistic meanings. The changes in semantics occur as a result of various reasons that are regarded as important in influencing the transformation in semantics. The classification of changes in the meaning of an item can be in terms of whether it is regarded as narrow or broad in its sense (Klepousniotou & Baum 2007). In addition semantics changes of an item can further be classified whether the item in question involves a metaphor or metonymy. Within the process of metaphorical meaning changes whereby speakers perceive some sort of resemblance between one concept and the other. Thus the comparison between one concept and the other leads to the changes in the meaning of various items within the same context or conversation. In most cases metonymy as compared to metaphor involves some form of connection between different types of concepts. In situation where there is no form of similarity between the concepts there is a close link of the concepts due to fact that one part compliments the other (Poulisse, 1993).  Another way through which there is an occurrence of the change in semantics involves of the various factors in the language itself. External factors can also play a major role of influencing the semantic changes occurrence. In relation to componential form of analysis the approach considers the fact that every lexeme can be assessed in terms of a set of more general form of sense in relation to components. Thus some components will be regarded as similar to varied forms of lexemes within the vocabulary. In addition componential analysis engages the use of motivation of accounting for sense relations with the element of interface in relation to syntax. Therefore is essential to engage the general characteristics in order to account for varied types of selectional limitation.An inference involves a mode of conclusion that an individual is able to make in relation from a sentence. Thus inferences form the conclusions that an individual is able to draw from an utterance or a sentence. These conclusions that are able to be drawn may contain different forms of meaning. This is due to the fact that the conclusions made may vary in terms of the words engaged in the sentence or utterance. Hence all entailments are considered as inferences but not all inferences are regarded as entailments. Inferences may take the form of conversational implicatures that mainly involve utterance meaning as opposed to sentence meaning. They may also include the perception that the speaker is making efforts to be helpful and cooperative within the form of the conversation (Ringbom, 1978).  In semantics truth is used as criteria of gauging whether two sentences are engaged in the expression of a similar preposition. Within a sentence there can be varied form of circumstances such that one pair of the sentence can be considered as truth while the other set regarded as false. If the expression referred is present within the same entity the pair of the sentence are considered as expressing varied form of prepositions. In relation to propositions and compositionality the meaning of expressions that are considered as simple require some form of learning and memorization. Hence these expressions are generally known as lexemes or lexical items while their stored meaning is regarded as lexical meaning. In this case lexical items are perceived to contain lexical form of meaning in semantics. On the other hand the meaning of a complex form of expressions can be inferred. This is due to the fact that the meaning of a complex expression in its entity involves the function of the meanings of lesser form of expressions that is in most cases contained in parts while the combination of various expressions is utilized (Meara, 1984).  Propositions and sentences involve a key semantic separation regarding the predicates and its forms of arguments. In relation to a verbal sentence involving a verb the predicate is considered as a verb with its arguments the subjects together with any objects. In semantic terms arguments are considered as typical entities in relation to the speaker while in the process of referring to various types of expressions. Hence in most cases speakers engage the use of predicates in order to assign properties to the particular entities or engage in the procedure of specifying the associations that exists and holds between them. In syntax terms arguments are generally recognized as noun phrases denoted as NPs while predicates are recognized as verbs and non-verbal types of expressions for instance ‘BE+ in the office. In semantics there is also need to differentiate denotation from sense. Denotation is used to mean extension while sense is engaged to mean intension. Sense in this case is regarded as the adjoining to the regular meaning of ‘meaning’. Therefore it is regarded as the part of the meaning in relation to expression that is considered as absent over in the procedure when reference is omitted (Clark, 1973). Linguistic communication does not only involve the procedure of producing words but also involves the use of gestures in communication. Gestures are therefore regarded as essential part in the communication process. This is due to the fact that in general terms the act of communication is usually supplemented by the use of gestures and signals from linked semiotic structures. There are various types of indications within the face to face forms of interaction process. The semantic construction regarding an utterance expresses itself within the same time in form of both the speech and in form of gestures. Hence gestures and verbal type of communication encompasses a synchronized entity. In this case gestures form an important element in the art of speaking. Hence the process of engaging in gestures which is known as gesticulations is managed by a similar part of the brain as speech. Speakers therefore express synchrony in relation to rhythm and structure of speech together with the structure of gesticulations. Gesticulations in most cases anticipate the process of speech and are considered as indirectly related to tone units in semantics. This is evident in the sense that in some occasions a gestural reaction may be exhibited prior to the commencement of actual speech in its form. Thus speech may be interrupted while in the process synchronized gesticulations continue in a smooth manner. Therefore the semantic structure of utterance is evident within the process of communication with the use of both forms of speech and signals or gestures (Channell, 1988). Lexis and culture The connotations of lexical items are in most cases influenced by prototypes of the dominant cultures as opposed to the cultural orientation being influenced by lexis. The vocabulary system within the lexis plays an essential role in affection various forms of lexis. This is evident in the fact that it may be challenging to engage in neutral cultureless words or phrases. However major connotations may not be unique to prototypical forms of representation. There it is important to note that lexical meanings are generally affected by cultural views. Therefore the cultural views play an important role in assigning different types of meanings to varied forms of lexis. Cultural attitudes and perception are regarded to be in a state of fluctuation and therefore there is no common type of meaning within a word or a phrase. In this case the connotations of words changes regularly. For instance the word gay in English gradually changed from the word homosexual. In the past the common word that was engaged was homosexual. With time the word homosexual has gradually transformed into gay. Hence gay is the most common used word as opposed to homosexual that was used in the past. While in some cultural context there is a struggle with the issue of homosexuality that has led to many controversial forms of debate some cultures are comfortable and have engaged in the process of embracing the practice of homosexuality. Thus as some segment of the population are happy with the homosexuality situation other segment of the society is not happy with homosexuality. This segment criticizes homosexuality openly and has not embraced the practice openly in the societal system (Bowerman, 1978). Within the cultural orientation there are also various mixed connotations of words and variation in terms of anti-language that is exhibited in subcultures. These sub-cultures assert that the variation in the use of the words and anti-language is valid according to their cultural orientation. Within the American culture for instance “bitch” involves a word that is used in negative connotations but the same terms is used to refer to a form of intimate affection between friends in the African American culture. Hence it is evident that connotations in various cultural orientations may assume different meanings in terms of their interpretations. This therefore concludes the fact that the use of connotations is dangerous in terms of the varied meanings that are implicated. Therefore it is argued that any form of argument involving the use of lexis in various cultural orientations is pointless while at the same time discarding the view of common sense. The incapability of the structuralists in semantics to offer validation in relation to lexis and the dominant cultural opinions leads to an effect in the conno0tation of lexical type of meaning. When considering lexical items based on cultural prototypes there is the presentation of different meaning of the words as the words gradually changes together with its validation in meaning. The use of cultural orientation assists an individual in the process of constructing various forms of meaning within a particular lexis item that is utilized. The dominant culture in relation to the meaning of lexis can be engaged in the process of assigning meaning to lexis items (Anglin, 1970). Conclusion In conclusion semantics is generally a linguistic word that is mainly concerned with assigning of meanings to lexis items. The meanings of different lexis items change due to the varied circumstances in terms of utterances and communication process. In relation to culture lexis and culture are generally bound and affirmed by speakers in the process of communication. Hence lexis undergoes growth as culture expands. In this case the cultural perceptions and views are generally encoded into lexis as opposed to being encoded by lexis. The societal values are regarded as being recognized in a ambiguous prototypical manner. In the past the orientation of the cultural perception was considered as different from the current cultural orientation. References Fillmore, C. & Atkins, B. (2000). "Describing polysemy: The case of "crawl"". In Leacock, C. Polysemy: Theoretical and computational approaches. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 91–110. p. 100. 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