Senin, 30 Mei 2016
DEFINITION OF POLYSEME
A polyseme
is a word or phrase with different, but related senses.
Since the test for polysemy is the vague concept of relatedness, judgments of
polysemy can be difficult to make. Because applying pre-existing words to new
situations is a natural process of language change, looking at words' etymilogy
is helpful in determining polysemy but not the only solution; as words become
lost in etymology, what once was a useful distinction of meaning may no longer
be so.
Some apparently unrelated words share a common
historical origin, however, so etymology is not an infallible test for
polysemy, and dictionary writers also often defer to speakers' intuitions to
judge polysemy in cases where it contradicts etymology. English has many words
which are polysemous. For example, the verb "to get" can mean
"procure" (I'll get the drinks), "become" (she
got scared), "understand" (I get it).
EXAMPLE OF POLYSEMY
Wood
- · a piece of a tree
- · a geographical area with many trees
Crane
- a bird
- a type of construction equipment
- to strain out one's neck
-
mole
- a small burrowing mammal
- consequently, there are several different entities called moles
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