Semantics

• Semantics


  The study of meaning in language. In its simplest form, it is what words actually refer to in the real world.
• Synonym


  A word with an equivalent meaning to another word
• Euphemism


  A more socially acceptable word or phrase
• Dysphemism


  Using a blunt or direct word instead of a more polite or indirect alternative (close to taboo)
• Antonyms


  Words that have opposite meanings
• Hyponymy


  The way of viewing the relationship between more general and specific words
• Connotation


  The wide array of positive and negative associations that most words naturally carry with them
• Denotation


  The precise, literal definition of a word that might be found in a dictionary
• Schema


  • Knowledge we have on a person, place or concept that is triggered by certain words
  • A bundle of information built from our experience in the world
  • Dynamic and changing/adapting all the time
  • Share common properties across individuals
• Hypernym


  A word that names a broad category that includes other words
• Hyponym


  • A word with a more specific meaning than the general term applicable to it
  • More likely to carry strong connotations than hypernyms
• The word 'animal' can carry negative connotations in phrases such as 'he behaved like an animal'
• Semantic field


  A set or group of words that are semantically linked - by meaning - referring to a particular subject
• Lexical field


  A set or group of words that are linked by subject or topic
• Idiom


  What a metaphor becomes when its meaning becomes fixed
• Metaphors are phrases that we might see on a day to day basis