AI HOC QUOC GIA THANH PHO HO CH MINH

TRNG AI HOC KHOA HOC XA HOI VA NHAN VAN

To Minh Thanh
GIAO TRNH

NHA XUAT BAN AI HOC QUOC GIA

TP HO CH MINH 2007

LI NOI AU
Giao trnh Ng ngha hoc tieng Anh c bin son mt
cch c h thng, da trn c s tham kho c chn lc nhng t
liu cua nc ngoi, kt hp vi kinh nghim ging dy nhiu nm
v mn hc ny ca tc gi v tp th ging vin trong B mn Ng
hc Anh. y l tp gio trnh c bin son dung ging dy
mn hc Ng ngha hc ting Anh (English Semantics) cho sinh
vin nm th t Khoa Ng vn Anh, Trng i hc Khoa hc X
hi v Nhn vn, i hc Quc gia Thnh ph H Ch Minh.
Giao trnh gm bn phan:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Introduction (phan dan nhap)

Word meaning (ngha cua t);
Sentence meaning (ngha cua cau);
Utterance meaning (ngha cua phat ngon)

Ln u tin bin son gio trnh ny, chng ti khng trnh

khi nhng sai st, nhng khuyt im. Rt mong nhn c nhiu
kin ng gp ca bn c va ca bn b ng nghip gio
trnh ngy cng hon thin hn, phc v ging dy sinh vin t cht
lng tot hn. kin ng gp v tp gio trnh ny xin gi v Hi
ng Khoa hc Khoa Ng vn Anh, Trng i hc Khoa hc X
hi v Nhn vn, i hc Quc gia Thnh ph H Ch Minh, s 1012 inh Tin Hong Qun 1, Thnh ph H Ch Minh. in thoi:
(08)8243328.
Thanh pho Ho Ch Minh, ngay 14 thang 12 nam 2006
To Minh Thanh
iii

CONTENTS
Preface ....................................................................................... iii
Contents .......................................................................................v
Notational symbols ................................................................... vii

1 INTRODUCTION...................................................................... 9
1.1 What is semantics? ......................................................... 9
1.2 Semantics and its possible included aspects ............. 10
2 WORD MEANING .................................................................. 12
2.1 Semantic features ........................................................ 12
2.2 Componential analysis .................................................. 20
2.3 Semantic fields ............................................................. 21
2.4 Lexical gaps .................................................................... 25
2.5 Referent, reference and sense ................................. 26
2.6 Denotation and connotation ........................................ 30
2.7 Multiple senses of lexical items ................................ 34
2.8 Figures of speech ................................................... 36
2.9 Hyponymy ................................................................ 57
2.10 Synonymy .............................................................. 63
2.11 Antonymy .............................................................. 67
2.12 Homonymy ............................................................. 72
2.13 Polysemy ................................................................ 78
v

2.14 Ambiguity .............................................................. 81

2.15 Anomaly ................................................................. 87
3 SENTENCE MEANING ............................................... 91
3.1 Proposition, utterance and sentence ........................ 91
3.2 Sentence types (classified according to
truth value) .............................................................. 96
3.3 Paraphrase .............................................................. 99
3.4 Entailment ............................................................. 104
4 UTTERANCE MEANING .................................................... 109
4.1 Presupposition ...................................................... 109
4.2 Conversational implicature ................................... 128
4.3 Conventional implicature ...................................... 145
4.4 Speech acts .................................................................. 146
4.5 Performatives and constatives ............................ 165
4.6 Politeness, co-operation and indirectness ............ 171
4.7 Deixis .................................................................... 173
Answer keys ............................................................................177
List of English-Vietnamese equivalent linguistic terms .......227
Bibliography ............................................................................252

vi

NOTATIONAL SYMBOLS
Most of the symbols used in this text follow conventions, but
since conventions vary, the following list indicates the meanings
assigned to them here.
A: adjunct
AdjP: adjective phrase
AdvP: adverb phrase
C: countable
dO: direct object
Ex: example
mono-trans: mono-transitive verb
n: noun
NP: noun phrase
op: optional
opA of Means: optional adjunct of means
Pro: pronoun
PP: prepositional phrase
RP: Received Pronunciation
S: sentence
Vgrp: verb group
VP: verb phrase
* : unaccepted form
iv

-- : related in some way

[ ] : embedded unit
/ : or
: one-way dependence
: two-way dependence
= : be equivalent to
+ : with the semantic feature specified
: without the semantic feature specified
: with or without the semantic feature specified

Section

INTRODUCTION

1.1 What is semantics?

Semantics is a branch of linguistics which deals with
meaning. In order to understand this definition, we need to know what
meaning is. However, before we discuss the meaning of meaning, it
is necessary to talk about the main branches of linguistics.
Linguistics has three main branches: syntax, semantics and
pragmatics. Syntax is the study of grammar (consisting of
phonology, morphology, syntax, and textual grammar)
whereas semantics and pragmatics deal with meaning.
Semantics is the study of meaning in language (i.e. what language
means) while pragmatics is concerned with meaning in context
(i.e. what people mean by the language they use). Although this is
a semantics course, part of what we are going to discuss is
concerned with pragmatics, for semantics and pragmatics are
closely related.
Take the distinction between semantic meaning and pragmatic
meaning as an illustration of how semantics is different from but, at
the same time, closely related to pragmatics.
Semantic meaning is context-free whereas pragmatic meaning
is context-dependent.
(1) A: Would you like a piece of cake?
B: Im on a diet.
9

The semantic meaning of Im on a diet in (1) is I want to

lose weight by eating the food which is not rich in fat, sugar, etc.
The pragmatic meaning of Im on a diet in (1) is I dont want
any piece of cake or Im afraid that I have to refuse your invitation.
(2) Tom: Do you like the wine I picked out?
Gina: Its Italian, isnt it?
The semantic meaning of Its Italian, isnt it? in (2) is Is it
right that the wine is made in Italy?
The pragmatic meaning of Its Italian, isnt it? in (2) is I
dont like the wine you picked out.

1.2 Semantics and its possible included aspects

Semantics is a technical term used to refer to the study of
meaning, and since meaning is part of language, semantics is
part of linguistics. Unfortunately, meaning covers a variety of
aspects of language, there is no general agreement about the
nature of meaning, what aspects of it may properly be
included in semantics, or the way in which it should be
described. [Palmer, 1981: 1] This little textbook will try to show
three main aspects that are commonly considered as included in
semantics: word meaning (or, to be more precise, lexical
meaning) [Lyons, 1995: 33], sentence meaning and utterance
meaning.1
In semantics it is necessary to make a careful distinction between utterances
and sentences. In particular we need some way of making it clear when we are

discussing sentences and when utterances. We adopt the convention that anything

10

The meaning of remarried, for example, can be analysed in

the three different levels.
At the word level, remarried may be regarded a set of the
four following semantic features: [+human], [male], [+used to
be married], and [+married again].
At the sentence level when remarried occurs in She is not
remarried, only the fourth semantic feature of the word,
namely [+married again], is informative, i.e. it is part of the
statement.
At the utterance level within the particular context of the
following conversation when remarried occurs in Bs response, it
is the word that helps the utterance presuppose that pastors are
allowed by rule to get married and implicate that the pastor was
once married.
A: How is the pastor?
B: He is remarried.
Because of the nature of the subject and the variety of views
on semantics and its possible included aspects, the little
textbook cannot hope to be more than an introductory survey.

written between single quotation marks represents an utterance, and

anything italicized represents a sentence or (similarly abstract) part of a

sentence, such as a phrase or a word:
She is not remarried represents an utterance.
She is not remarried represents a sentence.
Married represents a word conceived as part of a sentence.

11

Section

WORD MEANING

WORD MEANING is what a word means, i.e. what counts as

the equivalent in the language concerned. [Hurford and Heasley,
1984: 3]

2.1 Semantic features

2.1.1 Definition
Semantic features2 are the smallest units of meaning in a
word. [Richards et al, 1987: 254]
We identify the meaning of a word by its semantic
features. For example, father may have the following semantic
features: [+human], [+male], [+mature], [+parental] and
[+paternal]. And hen may be described as a set of the following
semantic features: [+animate], [+bird], [+fowl], [+fully grown]
and [+female].

2.1.2 Characteristics
2.1.2.1 Some semantic features need not be specifically
mentioned. For example, if a word is [+human] it is
automatically [+animate]. This generalization can be expressed
as a redundancy rule:
2

Semantic features are also referred to as semantic components or semantic

properties.

12

A word that is [+human] is [+animate].

That is why [+animate] need not be specified as a semantic
feature of father, girl, professor, etc. since the semantic feature
can be inferred from [+human].
Some redundancy rules infer negative semantic
features. Thus, semantic features are often shown in the form of
binary oppositions, which can be stated in terms of pluses and
minuses (that is, [+] and [
]):
If father is [+human], it is therefore [
inhuman];
If father is [+male], it is therefore [
female];
If father is [+mature], it is therefore [
immature];
maternal].
If father is [+paternal], it is therefore [
Notice that we identify the meaning of a word according to its
primitive semantic features first, e.g. [+animate], [+human],
[+male], etc.; and then with the assistance of its other semantic
features, e.g. [+parental], [+paternal], etc.
2.1.2.2 Different words may share the same semantic
feature. In other words, the same semantic feature can be
found in many different words.
Ex1: Doctor, engineer, teacher, physicist, chemist,
tailor, hairdresser, etc. all share the same semantic feature
[+professional].
Ex2: Mother, father, son, daughter, brother, sister,
grandparent, aunt, uncle, etc. are all [+kinship].

13

2.1.2.3 The same semantic feature can occur in words of

different parts of speech. In other words, words of different
parts of speech may share the same semantic feature.
For example, [+female] is part of the meaning of the noun
mother, the verb breast-feed and the adjective pregnant. And
[+educational] is a semantic feature found in the nouns school,
teacher, textbook, etc. and in the verbs teach, educate,
instruct, etc.
2.1.2.4 Fromkin and Rodman [1993: 148-149] confirm that
the semantic properties of words determine what other
words they can be combined with. These authors give the two
following sentences that are grammatically correct and
syntactically perfect but semantically anomalous:
(1) My brother is an only child.
(2) The bachelor is pregnant.
(1) is strange, or semantically anomalous, because this
sentence represents a contradiction: brother is [+having at least
one sibling] while an only child is [+having no other sibling];
(2) is semantically anomalous for a similar reason: bachelor is
[+male] whereas pregnant is [+female].
Here, Fromkin and Rodman also cite Noam Chomskys famous
classic example of semantically anomalous sentences:
(3) Colorless green ideas sleep furiously.
This sentence seems to obey all the syntactic rules of English:
its subject is colorless green ideas and its predicate is sleep

furiously; but there is obviously something semantically wrong

14

with the sentence. The adjective colorless is [

colour], but it
occurs with the adjective green the semantic feature of which
[+green in colour]. How can something be [
colour] and [+green
in colour] at the same time? In the same way, the noun ideas,
which is [+abstract], is semantically incompatible with the verb

sleep the noun phrase subject of which must be [+concrete] and

[+animate]. How can an abstract notion like ideas sleep? Then,
the verb sleep, whose adverbial collocations3 are well, badly and
soundly, is semantically incompatible with the adverb furiously.
How can a living being sleep when he is full of violent anger?
In conclusion, knowing all the possible semantic features of a
word enables us to combine semantically compatible words
together to form larger but meaningful linguistic units such as
phrases, clauses and sentences.
Fromkin and Rodman [1993:134] also believe that because
we know the semantic properties of words, we know when two
words are antonyms, synonyms or homonyms, or are unrelated
in meaning.
Exercise 1: For each group of words given below, state what
semantic features are shared by the (a) words and the (b)
words, and what semantic features distinguish between the
classes of (a) words and (b) words. The first one is done as an
example.
Collocations are regular combinations of words, e.g. by accident and strong tea
are English collocations.
Adverbial collocations refer to the adverbs regularly used together with a certain
verb.
3

15

1. (a) lobster, shrimp, crab, oyster, mussel

(b) trout, sole, herring, salmon, mackerel
The (a) and (b) words are [+edible water animal].
The (a) words are [+shellfish].
The (b) words are [+fish].
2. (a) widow, mother, sister, aunt, seamstress
(b) widower, father, brother, uncle, tailor
The (a) and (b) words are ___________________________
The (a) words are _________________________________
The (b) words are __________________________________
3. (a) bachelor, son, paperboy, pope, chief
(b) bull, rooster, drake, ram, stallion
The (a) and (b) words are ___________________________
The (a) words are __________________________________
The (b) words are _________________________________
4. (a) table, pencil, cup, house, ship, car
(b) milk, tea, wine, beer, water, soft drink
The (a) and (b) words are ____________________________
The (a) words are __________________________________
The (b) words are __________________________________
5. (a) book, temple, mountain, road, tractor
(b) idea, love, charity, sincerity, bravery, fear
16

The (a) and (b) words are ____________________________

The (a) words are __________________________________
The (b) words are __________________________________
6. (a) rose, lily, tulip, daisy, sunflower, violet
(b) ash, oak, sycamore, willow, beech
(c) pine, cedar, jew, spruce, cypress
The (a) (b) and (c) words are _________________________
The (a) words are __________________________________
The (b) words are __________________________________
The (c) words are __________________________________
7. (a) book, letter, encyclopaedia, novel, notebook, dictionary
(b) typewriter, pencil, ballpoint, crayon, quill, charcoal, chalk
The (a) and (b) words are ____________________________
The (a) words are __________________________________
The (b) words are __________________________________
8. (a) walk, run, skip, jump, hop, swim
(b) fly, skate, ski, ride, cycle, canoe, hang-glide
The (a) and (b) words are ____________________________
The (a) words are __________________________________
The (b) words are __________________________________
9. (a) ask, tell, say, talk, converse
(b) shout, whisper, mutter, drawl, holler
17

The (a) and (b) words are ____________________________

The (a) words are __________________________________
The (b) words are __________________________________
10. (a) alive, asleep, awake, dead, half-dead, pregnant
(b) depressed, bored, excited, upset, amazed,

surprised
The (a) and (b) words are ____________________________
The (a) words are __________________________________
The (b) words are __________________________________
Exercise 2: Identify the semantic features in each of the
following words.
1. Child: _____________________________________________
2. Aunt: ____________________________________________
3. Hen: _____________________________________________
4. Oak (-tree): ______________________________________
5. Flower: ___________________________________________
6. Palm: _____________________________________________
7. Bachelor: _________________________________________
8. Actress: __________________________________________
9. Plod: _____________________________________________
10. Ewe:_____________________________________________
11. Fly: _____________________________________________
18

12. Stallion: _________________________________________

13. Police-officer: ___________________________________
14. Beauty: __________________________________________
15. Imagine: _________________________________________
16. Doe: ____________________________________________
17. Drive: ___________________________________________
18. Home: __________________________________________
19. Elm: ____________________________________________
20. Chalk: ___________________________________________
21. Rose: ____________________________________________
22. Chick: ___________________________________________
23. Pap: _____________________________________________
24. Tiptoe: __________________________________________
25. Pine (-tree): _____________________________________
26. Owe: ____________________________________________
27. Computer: _______________________________________
28. Honesty: ________________________________________
29. Maid: ___________________________________________
30. Spinster: ________________________________________
Exercise 3: How can you distinguish the words given in the
following table from one another, considering their semantic
features?
19

Malay

English
brother

sadara

Vietnamese

Chinese

anh

huynh

em
sister

ch

e
muoi
ty

____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
2.2 Componential analysis
In Semantics, componential analysis is an approach to the
study of meaning which analyses a word into a set of
meaning components or semantic features. [Richards et al,
1987: 53]
For example, the meaning of boy may be shown as [+human],
[+male] and [adult] while that of man may be a combination of
[+human], [+male] and [+adult]. Thus, man is different from boy
basically in one primitive semantic feature: [adult].
20

Generally speaking, componential analysis is applied to a

group of related words which may differ from one another only
by one or two semantic features.

2.3 Semantic fields

2.3.1 Definition
A semantic field4 is the organization of related words
and expressions into a system which shows their
relationship to one another. [Richards et al, 1987: 53]
A semantic field can also be defined as a set of words with
identifiable semantic affinities. [Finegan, 1994: 164]
Ex1. The semantic field of kinship terms: father, mother,
brother, sister, uncle, aunt, etc.
Ex2. The semantic field of adjectives describing human
emotional states: angry, sad, happy, exuberant,
depressed, afraid, etc.
Ex3. The semantic field of drinking vessels: cup, mug,
tumbler, wine glass, beer glass, etc.
2.3.2 Ways of organising semantically similar items into
semantic fields
There are various ways according to which semantically
similar items are related to one another:
(a) Items related by topics:

A semantic field is also referred to as a lexical field or a lexical set.

21

 Types of fruit: apples, oranges, grapes, bananas, pears,

plums, etc.
Pieces of furniture: seats, tables, beds, storage, etc.
Terms of colour: blue, red, yellow, green, black, white, etc.
(b) Items similar in meaning:
Ways of cooking: stew, boil, fry, steam, roast, grill, smoke,
etc.
Ways of looking5: gaze, glance, peer, squint, stare, etc.

Ways in which a liquid escapes from its container6: drip,

leak, ooze, run, seep, etc.
5

Gaze = look long and steadily (at somebody/something) usually in surprise or

admiration: She gazed at me in disbelief when I told her the news.
Glance = take a quick look at: She glanced shyly at him and then lowered her eyes.
Peer (at, through, up, etc,) = look closely and carefully, especially as if unable to see
well: peer at somebody, peer out of the window, peer over the wall, peer through
the gap, peer over ones spectacles, etc.

Squint (at, through, up, etc,) = look (at somebody/something) with eyes half shut or
turn sideways, or through narrow opening: squint in the light of sunshine, squint
through the letter box.

Stare = look (at somebody/something) with the eyes wide open in a fixed gaze (in
astonishment, wonder, fear, etc.): They all stared in/with amazement. Its rude to stare.
6

Drip (allow liquid to) fall in drops: Rain was dripping down from the trees. Is that
roof still dripping?
Leak (allow liquid or air to) get in or out wrongly: The boat leaks like a sieve. Air
leaked out of the balloon.
Ooze (from/out of something; out/away) = (allow a thick liquid to) come or flow out slowly:
Black oil was oozing out of the engine. All the toothpaste has oozed out.
Run = (allow a liquid to) flow: The River Rhine runs into the North Sea. Water was
running all over the bathroom floor. The bathroom floor was running with water.
Seep (through/into/out of something; through/out) = (of a liquid) flow slowly and in small
quantities through a substance: Water seeped through the roof of the tunnel.

22

(c) Terms describing people whose weight is below

normal:7 thin, bony, skinny, scrawny, underweight,
emaciated, slender, slim, etc.
(d) Items which form pairs of antonyms: long/short,
light/heavy, alive/dead, love/hate,
approve/disapprove, approve/disapprove, begin/end,
inside/outside, upstairs/downstairs, etc.

Oil is seeping through a crack in the tank.

Drip, leak, ooze, run, seep indicate the way in which a liquid escape from a
container or tap. Most (not seep) also indicate the way in which a container or tap
allows a liquid to escape. 1 Drip = (allow sth to) fall in regular drops: Water is

dripping from the pipe. The pipe is dripping (water). 2 Leak = (allow sth to) get
out (through a hole in sth): Wine is leaking from the barrel. The barrel is leaking
(wine). 3 Ooze = (allow sth to) move slowly (out of sth) because thick: Blood is
oozing from the wound. The wound is oozing (blood). 4 Run = (allow sth to) flow
continuously (from sth): Water is running from the tap. The tap is running. 5
Seep = move slowly (through a small opening in sth) because thick: Oil is seeping
from the engine. [Crowther (ed.), 1992: 272]
7

When describing people whose weight is below normal, thin is the most general word,
It may be negative, suggesting weakness or lack of health: Shes gone terribly thin

since operation. Bony is often applied to parts of the body such as hands or face;
skinny and scrawny are negative and can suggest lack of strength: He looks much
too skinny/scrawny to be a weight-lifter. Underweight is the most neural: The
doctor says Im underweight. Emaciated indicates a serious condition resulting from
starvation. It is often thought desirable to be slim or slender, slim being used
especially of those who have reduced their weight by diet or exercise: I wish I was

as slim as you. You have a beautifully slender figure. [Crowther (ed.), 1992: 947]

23

(e) Items which form pairs or trios of synonyms:

smart/bright/intelligent, conserve/preserve/safeguard,
fix/repair/mend, kind/sort/type/variety, happy/glad, etc.
(f) Items grouped as an activity or a process:
Do the housework: clean the rooms, do the washing, iron
the clothes, get the food, prepare a meal, wash up, etc.
Do research: make hypotheses, collect data, analyze data,
get results and come to conclusions.
(g) Items classified according to:
Male: waiter, tiger, actor, host, landlord, sir, etc.

Sex
Female: waitress, tigress, actress, hostess,

landlady, madam, etc.

Age: grown-ups, adults, elderly people, middle-aged

people, teenagers, children, infants, babies, etc.
Age and sex:
horse stallion:[+male],[+fully grown] dog dog: [+male],[+fully grown]
mare:[+female],[+fully grown]

bitch:[+female],[+fully grown]

foal: [male], [fully grown]

puppy: [male], [fully grown]

Exercise 4: Organise the given words (and probably those of your

own) into three semantic fields: shirts, end, forward(s), new,
hats, lend, coats, shorts, beginning, trousers, amble, out,
24

limp, tiptoe, plod, socks, trudge, borrow, stomp, in, stump,

old, backward(s), and tramp.

1._________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
2._________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
3._________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
2.4 Lexical gaps
The absence of a word in a particular place in a lexical
field of a language is called a lexical gap. [Richards et al, 1987:
164]
For example, in English there is no singular noun that covers
bull, cow and calf either as horse covers stallion, mare and foal
or as goat covers billy-goat, nanny-goat and kid.
horse

stallion mare foal billy-goat

goat

nanny-goat

kid

bull

cow calf

Exercise 5: Try to fill in each of the two blanks with an

appropriate word to prove that there is no lexical gap in the
given semantic fields.
25

sheep

ram ewe

giraffe

male giraffe

baby giraffe

2.5 Referent, reference and sense

2.5.1 Distinction between referent, reference and sense
In Semantics, a distinction is often made between referent,
reference and sense:
2.5.1.1 A referent is an object or an entity in the real
world or in the world of your imagination, e.g. your school,
your classmates, your teacher, any thing you can see in the
classroom right now, the idealistic working conditions you have
ever dreamed of, etc. that is talked about.
Several words, especially the so-called function words8, have
no obvious referents: the, could, in, since, and, etc.
2.5.1.2 The reference of a word9 or a linguistic expression is
the relationship between that word or expression and the thing
(book), the action (read), the event (graduate from university),
the quality (sincerity), etc. it refers to.
It is commonly believed that function words like prepositions (of, in, etc.),
definite and indefinite articles (the, a/an), conjunctions (if, however, or, etc.),
and auxiliaries (may, should, will, etc.) only signal grammatical relations.
[Finegan, 1994: 175]
9
Or, to be more precise, a lexical item

26

For example, the reference of Peters house is the

relationship between this English noun phrase and the house that
belongs to Peter.
Peters house
the house that belongs to Peter
(in the Eng. language) REFERENCE

(in the real world)

2.5.1.3 The sense10 of a word or a linguistic expression11

shows the internal relationship between that word or expression
and others in the vocabulary of a language.
Ex1. Teacher and student have the sense relationship of the former
is the one who gives a lesson and the latter is the one
who has the lesson given by the former.
Ex2. A dog is chasing a cat has some sense. However, a dog is
human has no sense.
Ex3. The King of Vietnam is bald has some sense: its sense is
constructed by its individual lexical components and its
syntactic structure. However, this sentence has no reference: it
does not refer to any real person because the King of
Vietnam does not exist nowadays.
Consider the following table and identify
reference and sense via their main features.

referent,

It is necessary to notice that the two linguistic terms sense and meaning will be
used interchangeably from now on in this text.
11
The SENSE of an expression is its indispensable hard core of meaning.
[Hurford and Heasley, 1984: 91]
10

27

REFERENT
in the external
world
either real
or imaginary

bachelor

Bach
Tuyet

a man who has not

ever been married

the lovely princess

in a fairy tale which

I have already read

REFERENCE

SENSE

between a language
and the external
world

in a language

abstract

abstract

the relationship
between the word
bachelor and a certain
unmarried man

unmarried
man

the relationship
between
the name Bach Tuyet

Tuyet Trang

and the very princess

2.5.2 Distinction between variable reference, constant

reference and co-reference
2.5.2.1 When the same linguistic expression refers to different
referents, it has variable reference.
Ex1. There are as many potential referents for the phrase your
left ear as there are people with a left ear in the world.
Ex2. The referent of the phrase the present prime minister
used in Britain in 1944 is Mr. Churchill and in 1982 is Mrs.
Thatcher.

28

2.5.2.2 When one linguistic expression refers to one and the

same referent, it has constant reference: the sun, the moon,
Halleys comet12, the Peoples Republic of China, Angola, the
United Nations, FIFA, UNESCO, etc.

2.5.2.3 When two or more linguistic expressions share the

same referent, they have co-reference.
Ex1. The morning star and the evening star both refer to
the planet called Venus.
Ex2. In a conversation about Britain in 1982, the Prime
Minister and the leader of the Conservative Party
share the same referent: Mrs Thatcher.
Ex3. If we are talking about a situation in which John is
standing alone in the corner, John and the person in
the corner share the same referent.
Exercise 6: What is identified by the word mean or meaning in
the following examples, i.e. reference or sense? Write R for
reference and S for sense.
_____ 1. When Albert talks about his former friend, he means me.
_____ 2. Daddy, what does logic mean?
_____ 3. Purchase has the same meaning as buy.

12

Halleys comet is the bright comet which reappears about every 76 years. It was first
recorded in 240 BC, and the fact of its regular return was established by Edmond
Halley. Its next reappearance is due in 2061.

29

_____ 4. Look up the meaning of democracy in your dictionary.

_____ 5. If you look out of the window now, youll see who I mean.

2.6 Denotation13 and connotation14

2.6.1 Definition
The denotation of a word is the core, central or
referential meaning of the word found in a dictionary. In
English, a content word15 may have its denotation described in
terms of a set of semantic features that serve to identify the
particular concept associated with the word.
The connotation of a word is the additional meaning that
the word has beyond its denotative meaning. It shows
peoples emotions and/or attitudes16 towards what the word
refers to.

Denotation is also referred to as denotative meaning.

Connotation is also referred to as connotative meaning.
15
Content words principally nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs like
democracy, mother, stir-fry, happy, and totally have meaning in that they
refer to objects, events, and abstract concepts [Finegan, 1994: 161] while
function words specifically articles, prepositions, conjunctions and auxiliaries
like a/an, including, nevertheless, but, should, etc. also carry meaning, though
in a different way from content words: to signal grammatical relations.
13
14

[Finegan, 1994: 175]

16

The referential meaning of a word or sentence is frequently called its

denotation, in contrast to the connotation, which includes both its social and
affective meaning. [Finegan, 1994: 161]

30

Ex1. Child is denotatively described as [+human], [mature]

and [male].
Under a certain circumstance, child may positively be
connoted as [+affectionate] or [+innocent].
Under another circumstance, child may negatively be connoted
as [+noisy] or [+irritating].
Ex2. Woman is denotatively described as [+human], [+mature]
and [+female].
Under a certain circumstance, woman may positively be
connoted as [+devoted] or [+patient].
Under another circumstance, woman may negatively be
connoted as [+wicked] or [+talkative].
The denotation of a word can easily be found in a dictionary
while its connotation(s) may probably depend on such factors as
(1) the culture in which the word is used; (2) the language users
family and/or educational background; (3) the language users
social and/or political class; (4) the language users speech
community and/or ethnic group; etc. In brief, these factors are
by virtue of personal and cultural associations.

2.6.2 Distinction between denotation and connotation

Consider the following table and identify denotation and
connotation via their main features.
31

DENOTATION

CONNOTATION

what a lexical item

means

emotions and/or attitudes towards

what a lexical item refers to

core, central

peripheral

referential

social, affective
- still single after the usual age for marrying

bachelor

unmarried man

- decided by himself to stay single

- enjoying freedom, friendship, life, etc.
- ready for his impending marriage
- still single after the usual age for marrying

spinster

unmarried woman

- not decided by herself to stay single

- left in an unfavourable state
- a symbol for some failure in life

the twelfth month

December

of the year, next

after November

bad weather (usually rainy or snowy),

dark evening, grey sky, slippery streets,
holiday season, Christmas, winter break,
loneliness, separation from the beloved

Ex1. The word fox almost always has a negative connotation in

English when it is associated with any person who is cunning
or deceitful.

32

Ex2. Some English words usually have positive connotations (+);

others usually have neutral connotations (); still others
usually have negative connotations ():
- mother/mom (+), woman (), witch ();
- father/dad (+), man (), the old man ();
- slender (+), thin (), skinny ();
- plump (+), overweight (), fat ().
Ex3. Synonyms, words that have the same basic meaning, do
not always have the same emotional meaning. For
example, the words stingy and frugal both mean careful
with money. However, to call a person stingy is an insult,
while the word frugal has a much more positive connotation.
Similarly, a person wants to be slender but not skinny, and
aggressive17 but not pushy. Therefore, you should be
careful in choosing words because many so-called
synonyms are not really synonyms at all.
Exercise 7: Identify all the possible connotations associated with
the word Christmas.

__________________________________________________
________________________________________________
17

Aggressive (often approved) = forceful = (self-)assertive = showing strong and

confident personality; expressing ones views; demands; etc. confidently:
A good salesman must be aggressive if he wants to be succeeded.
Pushy (also pushing, informally derogative) = trying constantly to draw attention
to oneself and gain an advantage:
He made himself unpopular by being so pushy.

33

2.7 Multiple senses of lexical items

2.7.1 Primary meaning vs. secondary meaning
The first and foremost distinction made in multiple senses of a
word is between its primary and secondary meanings.
2.7.1.1 The primary meaning of a word (or, to be more
precise, a lexical item) is the first meaning or usage that the
word will suggest to most people when it is said in isolation.
The primary meaning of the English noun wing, for instance,
is either of the pair of feathered limbs that a bird uses to fly.
2.7.1.2 Secondary meanings of a word are the meanings
besides its primary meaning. They are said to be not central but
peripheral.
In addition, secondary meanings of a word are contextbound whereas its primary meaning is not.
In He usually plays on the wing, for example, wing means
side part of the playing area in football, hockey, etc. Such a
secondary meaning is derived from the context denoted by the
verb plays.

2.7.2 Literal meaning vs. figurative meaning

It is time to distinguish then within all the possible meanings of
the English noun wing, for example, those that are literal and those
that are figurative.
2.7.2.1 The basic or usual meaning of a word [Crowther
(ed.), 1992: 527] is usually referred to as its literal meaning.
34

Some literal meanings are identified via context in the noun wing:

Part that projects from the side of an aircraft and supports it
in the air: the two wings of an airplane;
 Part of a building that projects from the main part:
the east/west wing of a house;
 Projecting part of the body of a motor vehicle above the wheel:
The left wing of his car was damaged in the collision;
 Part of a political party that holds certain views or has a
particular function: the radical wing of the Labour Party.
2.7.2.2 The figurative meaning of a word is one which is
different from its usual (literal) meaning and which create
vivid mental images to readers or listeners.
Below are some figurative meanings of the noun wing:
- We hope college life will help him to spread his wings a bit.
(= extend his activities and interests)
- Having a new baby to look after has clipped her wings a bit.
(= has prevented her from achieving her ambition)
- She immediately took the new arrivals under her wing.
(= looked after the new arrivals)
- He retires as chairman next year; his successor is waiting in
the wings. (= is ready to replace him)
Wing is an English word that has several closely related but
slightly different meanings. It is said to be polysemous.

35

2.8 Figures of speech

A figure of speech is a word or phrase which is used for
special effect, and which does not have its usual or literal
meaning. [Richards et al, 1987: 105]

2.8.1 Simile and metaphor

2.8.1.1 Definition
Simile is the use of comparison of one thing with
another, eg. as brave as a lion, a face like a mask. [Crowther (ed.),
1992: 848]
It is incredible to notice that not all comparisons belong to simile,
eg. He is much taller than his elder brother. Only the comparisons
clearly employed as examples of figures of speech do.
Metaphor is the use of a word or phrase to indicate
something different from (though related in some way to)
the literal meaning, as in Ill make him eat his words or She has a
heart of stone. [Crowther (ed.), 1992: 564]
2.8.1.2 Distinction between a simile and a metaphor
A simile is an explicit or direct comparison in which
something is compared to something else by the use of a
function word such as like or as:
- My hands are as cold as ice. (= My hands are very cold.)
- Tom eats like a horse.
(= Tom eats as much as a horse does. In other words, Toms
appetite IS explicitly COMPARED TO that of a horse.)
36

A metaphor is an implicit or indirect comparison in which

no function word is used. Something is described by stating another
thing with which it can be compared:
- She has a heart of stone.
(= She has a pitiless and unfeeling nature.)
- Ill make him eat his word.
(= Ill make him admit that what hes said is wrong.)
- He was a lion in the fight.
(= He fought bravely and successfully just like a lion
in the fight for food.)
- His words stabbed at her heart.
(= Like a knife, his words are so sharp that they can
cause great pain or much unhappiness for her. In other
words, his words did not actually stab, but their effect IS
implicitly COMPARED TO the stabbing of a knife.)
2.8.1.3 Distinction between dead metaphors18 and live metaphors
Dead metaphors are used so often that they have lost
their metaphoric characteristics: the leg/face of the table,
the back of the chair, the mouth of the river, the head of the
state, the childhood of the earth, etc.
Dead metaphors are in fact idioms19 or fixed expressions
that native speakers of a language give special meanings and use
18

Dead metaphors are also called either unconscious or fossilized metaphors.

19

An idiom is an expression which functions as a single unit and whose meaning

cannot be worked out from its separate parts. Thus, we cannot understand an

37

naturally and unconsciously: these speakers do not pay attention to

the implicit comparison found in any dead metaphor; they just
think directly of its meaning used in a given context:
- He looks as though he hasnt had a square meal for months.
(= a large and satisfying meal)
- He washed his hand out of the matter.
(= refused to have anything more to do with the matter)
Live metaphors20 are implied or indirect comparisons
which have a variety of figurative meanings through their
endless use: Tom is a pig may be interpreted as Tom is short
and fat, Tom is slow and lazy, Tom is greedy, Tom is not
intelligent, Tom is neither intelligent nor ambitious, etc.
Live metaphors can only be understood after the implicit
comparison found in any of them is seriously considered and
fully appreciated. Native speakers of a language use live
metaphors intentionally and creatively in order to make their
speech more vivid, figurative, concise, etc.: You are a mist that
appears for a little time and then vanishes.
(= You are implicitly compared to a mist that does not last
long, i.e. you come and leave quickly.)
idiom just by looking at the separate meanings or the word classes of its
members. We have to consider an idiom as a whole and figure out its meaning
in context.

- His excuses cut no ice with me. (= had little or no effect on me)
- The project has been going great guns.(=proceeding vigorously & successfully)
20
Live metaphors are also called conscious metaphors.

38

2.8.2 Personification
Personification is a special kind of metaphor in which some

human characteristic is attributed to an inanimate object

or abstract notion; that is, a lifeless thing or quality is
stated as if it were living, as in pitiless cold, cruel heat, a
treacherous calm, a sullen sky, a frowning rock, the thirsty
ground, the laughing harvest, the childhood of the world, the

anger of the tempest, the deceitfulness of riches, etc.

2.8.3 Metonymy
2.8.3.1 Definition
Metonymy is the substitution of the name of one thing for
that of another to which it is related/with which it is
associated. (In Greek, meta- means substitution and onyma
means name.)
(a) A sign substitutes for the person or the object it signifies or
symbolizes.
- He succeeded to the crown (= the royal office).
- She is a fighter against red tape (= bureaucracy, office routine).
- The new proposal might affect the cloth (= the clergy) in some way.
- Backstairs did influence.
(= intrigues, secret plans to do something bad, secret arrangements)
- Can you protect your children from the cradle to the grave?
(= from childhood to death)
39

(b) An instrument substitutes for an agent.

-The pen (= the writer) has more influence than the sword
(= the soldier).
- He is the best pen (= the best writer) of the day.
- Who brought fire and sword (= a destructive war) into our country?
- We need a force of a thousand rifles (= soldiers).
- Sceptre and crown (= kings)
Must tumble down,
And in the dust be equal made
With the poor crooked scythe and spade (= peasants).
[James Shirley]
(= Like peasants, kings must die.)
(c) A container substitutes for the thing contained.
- The kettle (= the water in the kettle) is boiling.
- He drank the cup.
(= the coffee, the tea, the chocolate, etc. in the cup)
- He is too fond of the bottle (= the liquor in the bottle).
- The conquerors smote the city (= the inhabitants of the city).
- Why dont you recognize the power of the purse?
(= the money kept in the purse)
(d) The concrete, like an organ of the human body,
substitutes for the abstract such as love, hatred, sincerity, a
mental ability, a natural talent, etc.
40

- She has an ear for music. (= She possesses a remarkable talent

for learning, imitating, appreciating, etc. music.)
- She has a good head of business.
(= She is gifted in/is clever at dealing with business.)
(e) The abstract substitutes for the concrete:
- His Majesty (= the king) died a year ago.
- His Holiness (= the Pope) has just come back to Rome.
- The authorities put an end to the riot.
(= the group of people who have the power to give orders or take action)
(f) The material substitutes for the thing made.
- The marble (= the marble statue21) speaks.
- All our glass is kept in the cupboard.
(= vessels and articles made of glass)
- He was buried under this stone.
(= this tomb made of stone, this tombstone)
(g) An author/a producer/a place where goods are made
substitutes for his work(s)/its product(s).
- I have never read Keat (= Keats poems).
- Have you ever read Homer (= the works of Homer)?
- I love old china (= crockery made in China).
21

A scene found in a fairly tale shows the prince of a kingdom going for a walk
in his garden. When passing by the marble statue, he notices a sweet call:
My dear prince!

41

2.8.3.2 Distinction between metaphor and metonymy

On the one hand, metaphor is based on the associated
similarity shared by the two things being implicitly
compared. In other words, only if A and B are similar to each other
in some way can the name commonly referred to A be
metaphorically used to refer to B.
On the other hand, metonymy does not depend on such
similarity.
Lets consider the two following sentences:
(1) The organization is keeping the brake on pay rises.
(2) No man is an island: entire of itself; every man is a piece of the
continent.
The sentence marked (1) exemplifies a metaphor: the core
meaning of keep the brake on a certain vehicle in order to reduce
its speed or to stop it has been changed to its metaphoric
meaning: control pay rises or cause pay rises to slow down.
The whole sentence means the organization is controlling the
increase in the amounts/sums of money paid for its current
activities.
This sentence marked (2) consists of two metonymies:
respectively, an island and the continent, which are both
[+concrete], stand for isolation and community, which are both
[+abstract].
The whole sentence means no one can isolate himself from the
community he has been living in.

42

2.8.4 Synecdoche
2.8.4.1 Definition
Synecdoche is a special kind of metonymy in which a part
or aspect of a person, object, etc. is meant to refer to the
whole person, object, etc. [Crowther (ed.), 1992: 925]
- They organized a fleet of fifty sails (= ships).
- He is a man of seventy winters (= years of age).
- He managed to earn his bread (= necessaries).
- This is a village of only more than one hundred souls
(= people).
- Gray hairs (= old or elderly people) should be respected.
Synecdoche also involves a whole or genus used to
substitute for a part or species: vessel for ship, the smiling

year for the smiling season of the year, especially the spring, the
Christian world for the Christian Church as a whole, etc.
2.8.4.2 Distinction between metonymy and synecdoche
Lets consider the four following sentences:
(1) The princess captures the hearts of the nation.

The hearts, which is [+organ of the human body] and thus

[+concrete], is used to stand for the love, which is [+emotional
experience] and thus [+abstract]. The hearts in this case is a
metonymy. The sentence means all the people of that country love
the princess.
43

(2) He has a kind heart.

A heart, which is [+organ of the human body], [+concrete] and

[+part], is used to stand for a person, which is [+human], [+concrete]
and [+whole]. A kind heart in this case is a synecdoche. The
sentence means he is a kind/kind-hearted person who is concerned for
others around him.
(3) Spare the rod and spoil the child.

The rod, which is [+thing] and thus [+concrete], is used to

stand for the punishment, which is [+human activity], [+intention] and
thus more or less [+abstract]. The rod in this case is a metonymy.
The sentence means if you do not punish a child when he does wrong, you
will spoil his character.
(4) All hands on deck did help.

Hands, which is [+organ of the human body], [+concrete] and

[+part], is used to stand for people, which is [+human], [+concrete]
and [+whole]. In this case, hands must be a synecdoche. This
sentence means all the people on one of the floors of the ship worked
hard to accomplish a certain task.
2.8.5 Hyperbole
Hyperbole, which is also called overstatement, is the use of
exaggerated statement that is made for special effect
and is not meant to be taken literally. [Crowther (ed.), 1992:
446]
44

Below are a few hyperboles or overstatements:

- Ive invited millions of (= a lot of) people to my party.
- She sheds floods of tears (= cries a lot) whenever she is upset.
- Dont live in such a sea of doubt!
(= Dont be too suspicious!)
- Never in a million years will he admit defeat.
(= He will never admit defeat.)
- I havent seen you for ages.
(= for a few weeks, for a couple of months, for a while)
2.8.6 Litotes
Litotes, which is also called meiosis, is the use of
deliberately gentler, milder or weaker statements to
express something in a controlled way.
- I dont think I would agree with you. (= I disagree with you.)
- I am afraid that no passenger is allowed to smoke in here.
(= You are not allowed to smoke in here.)
Quite often, an expression of litotes is an ironical
understatement, especially using a negative to emphasize
the contrary. [Crowther (ed.), 1992: 527]
- Its not bad. (= It is fine.)
- It wasnt easy. (= It was very difficult.)
- Always remember that she is no fool.
(= She is worldly-wise, in fact.)
- Jim was rather upset when he again failed in the final exam.
(= very upset)
45

2.8.7 Irony
Irony is the expression of ones meaning by saying the
direct opposite of ones thoughts in order to be emphatic, amusing,
sarcastic, etc. [Crowther (ed.), 1992: 479]
Below are a few expressions of irony:
- What a lovely day it was! Everything I had went wrong.
- He is so intelligent that no examiner has agreed to pass him
so far.
- He is lucky to have such an ugly and awkward wife.
- She is extremely unlucky to be born
in such a prosperous family in a developed European country.
- Your plan is really tricky. The other team will figure it out
in about one play.

2.8.8 Euphemism
2.8.8.1 Definition
Euphemism is the use of pleasant, mild or indirect words
or phrases in place of more accurate or direct ones.
[Crowther (ed.), 1992: 305] Respectively, morticians (also called
undertakers) and a garbage man may be euphemistically replaced
by funeral directors and a sanitation engineer.
2.8.8.2 Distinction between a taboo word and a euphemism.
A taboo word, a dirty word, is the word or the linguistic
expression that refers to a taboo act or behaviour in a society,
a culture or a speech community while a euphemism is the word or
the linguistic expression that replaces a taboo word or serves
to avoid a frightening or unpleasant subject.
46

It is crucial to recognize that a taboo word and its

euphemism share the same denotative meaning but they differ in
their connotative meanings: the taboo word has a negative
connotation whereas its euphemism has a positive connotation.
Below are a number of common euphemisms and their taboo words:

Euphemisms
social disease
criminal assault
handicapped
mentally ill
underprivileged
developing or less developed (country)
(more) developed (country)
senior citizens
laid to rest
perspiration
intoxicated
abdomen
odour
expectorate
retarded or unusual
hard of hearing
love child

Taboo words
syphilis
rape
crippled
insane
poor
poor (country)
rich (country)
the aged
buried
sweat
drunk
belly
stink or smell
spit
mentally defective
deaf
bastard

47

Below are a few expressions of euphemism:

- Pass away is a euphemism for die.
- He was his Majestys guest for two years is a euphemism
for He was in jail for two years.

2.8.9 Onomatopoeia
Onomatopoeia is the imitation of natural sounds by means
of words or groups of words. Hiss, cuckoo, thud, moo, baa,
hush, pop, etc. are onomatopoeic words. Growl, splash, crackle,
etc. exemplify semi-onomatopoeia.
Onomatopoeia can be identified in the following sentences:
- She is always squeaking and squawking.
- We could hear the enemy guns booming (away) in the distance.
- He felt a tap on his shoulder.
- Rain was dripping down from the trees. Its steady drip kept
me awake all night long.
Exercise 8: Interpret the meaning the following sentences and
state what kind of figures of speech (also called figurative
language) used in each of them.
1. When he gets going, Jack is a streak of lightning.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

48

2. I found the fifty-two pounds of books you left for me to carry. Your
kindness really moved me.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
3. The man is a demon for work.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
4. When you take that course, plan to study thirty hours a day.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
5. The wind howled angrily around the house all night.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
6. When the White House called, the ambassador went at once.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
7. My dormitory room is like a cave.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
49

8. Come to the dormitory and see what a cave I live in.

______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
9. Dick was fairly pleased when he won the brand-new car in the contest.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
10. If you are not happy with the service, go and talk to the City Hall.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
11. Man does not live by bread alone.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
12. We now live under the same roof.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
13. Albert was as sharp as a tack this morning. He answered every
question as soon as it was asked.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
50

14. The river ate the bank away.

______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
15. Keep overeating like that and pretty soon youll weigh a
thousand pounds.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
16. After she heard the good news, she grinned like a mule eating briars.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
17. The captain was in charge of one hundred horses.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
18. Joe cried a little when he lost the thousand dollars.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
19. You can depend on Gina; she is a rock when trouble comes.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
51

20. Life is a dream.

______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
21. Hes so hardheaded that he wont listen to anyone.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
22. Research says that these methods are best.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
23. Right at this minute, I could drink a barrel of water without
stopping.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
24. It is amazing what a great mind he is.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
25. Alice came in gently, like a May breeze.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
52

26. Susie is a picture of loveliness in her new dress.

______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
27. A thousand thanks are for your kindness.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
28. I walked past the big sad mouth which didnt know what to say then.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
29. We are tired to death of such movies.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
30. Give every man thine ears, bid a few thy voice.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
31. There was a storm in Parliament last night.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
53

32. Im afraid he has misrepresented the facts.

______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
33. He worked and worked until he breathed his last.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
34. Well just have to go our separate ways.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
35. They were vital, unforgettable matches that gave us a new
window on the game.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
36. Ive told you a thousand times not to touch that again.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
37. He is as mute as a fish.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
54

38. We stopped to drink in the beautiful scenery.

______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
39. His words can be trusted.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
40. The police team has cemented close ties with the hospital staff.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
41. The boss gave her a hot look.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
42. He could not bridle his anger.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
43. He attacked every weak point in my argument.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

55

44. In 1940, after the fall of France, England had no defense left but
her ancient valor.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
45. The fire snaps and crackles like a whip; its sharp acrid smoke stings
the eyes. It is the fire that drives a thorn of memory in my heart.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
46. The organization is keeping the brake on pay rises.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
47. Her father is a captain of industry.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
48. I am the captain of my soul.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
49. To fall out of a tree in ones early childhood is not a particularly
reassuring experience.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
56

50. No man is an island: entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

2.9 Hyponymy
2.9.1 Definition
Hyponymy is a relation in which the referent of a word is
totally included in the referent of another word. In other
words, hyponymy is the relationship between each of the
hyponyms22 (the lower word) and its superordinate23 (the
higher word):
cook
grill

toast

boil

stir-fry

fry24

saute

roast

bake

smoke

deep-fry

2.9.2 Distinction between a hyponym and a superordinate

22

Hyponyms are also referred to as subordinates or specific lexical items.

23

Superordinates are also referred to as hyper(o)nyms or generic lexical items.

24

stir-fry = fry (vegetables, meat, etc.) for a short time in very hot oil

while stirring them

saute = fry (food like potatoes) quickly in a little fat
deep-fry = fry (food

like potatoes) quickly in hot fat that completely covers them

57

A hyponym is a word whose referent is totally included

in the referent of another word (the prefix hypo- in hyponym
means below). [Finegan, 1994: 165]
Accordingly, a superordinate is a word whose referent
covers all the referents of its hyponyms. (The prefix hyperin hyper(o)nym means over.)
Ex1.

plant

tree bush (shrub)

flowering plant moss

grass

Hyponyms often exist at more than one level, resulting in

multiple layers of hyponymic relationships:
Ex2.

colour

blue

red

yellow

green

black

turquoise25 aquamarine royal blue

In this case, blue is a word that has a hyponym and a
superordinate at the same time. Since turquoise, aquamarine and
royal blue refer to different shades of blue, these words are
IMMEDIATE hyponyms [Palmer: 1981: 87] of blue. The word
blue in its turn is, along with many other colour terms, an
IMMEDIATE hyponym of colour. We thus obtain a hierarchy of

25

Turquoise = greenish blue; aquamarine = bluish green; royal blue = deep

bright blue

58

terms related to each other through hyponymic relationships.

Similar hierarchies can be established for many lexical fields:
Ex3.

physical entity
plant

fish

bird

insect

bug

sparrow hawk crow fowl

chicken

rock

animal
reptile

mammal

animal (beast)

human

turkey quail

dog

cat

cow

Note in this case that the word animal appears on two different
levels. English speakers indeed use the word to refer to at least
two different referents: animals as distinct from plants and rocks,
and animals (generally mammals other than humans) as distinct
from humans.

2.9.3 Hyponymy and inclusion

HYPONYMY involves us in the notion INCLUSION in the
sense that tulip and rose are included in flower, and lion and

elephant in mammal (or perhaps animal). Similarly, scarlet is

included in red. Inclusion is thus a matter of class
membership. The super term is the SUPERORDINATE and the
lower term is the HYPONYM. [Palmer, 1981: 85]

59

Exercise 9: Each of the following sentences presents a pair of

words. Which of them is a superordinate and which, a
hyponym?
1. She reads books all day mostly novels.
2. A crocodile is a reptile.
3. Theres no flower more beautiful than a tulip.
4. He likes all vegetables except carrots.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Exercise 10: Draw a chart to show the relationship between a
superordinate and a hyponym.
1. luggage and suitcase

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
2. green vegetable and bean

60

3. animal and foal

4. animal and child

5. fowl and rooster

6. plant and coconut

7. plant and rose

61

8. vocal organ and tongue tip

9. head and eyelash

10. furniture and dressing table

11. vehicle and convertible

12. vocalize and croon

62

2.10 Synonymy
2.10.1 Definition
Synonymy is a relation in which various words have different
(written and sound) forms but have the same or nearly the
same meaning.
Ex1: The two English verbs hide and conceal are synonyms; they
both mean keep somebody/something from being seen or
known about.
Ex2: The four English nouns kind, type, sort and variety are
synonyms; they all refer to a group having similar
characteristics.

2.10.2 Distinction between true synonymy and

partial synonymy
2.10.2.1 True synonymy
There are few true synonyms in the lexicon of a language.
Ex1. Movie, film, flick26 and motion picture may be considered
as synonyms because they all refer to the same set of referents
in the real world. In other words, they have the same
denotative meaning. However, these lexical items differ in
their connotative meanings: movie may strike you as American
while film may strike you as British or as appropriate for
movie classics or art movies; flick is used chiefly in very
informal contexts whereas motion picture is quaintly
outdated and has connotations as a term from the thirties or
forties of the 20th century.
26

flick n [C] (dated, informal) cinema film

63

In brief, movie, film, flick and motion picture are not true
synonyms.
Ex2. Fast, quick and rapid may be considered as synonyms
because they may be used interchangeably in reference to
someones running speed: Hes a fast/quick/rapid runner.
However; a fast talker, one who is able to get out of trouble
by talking cleverly, is different from a quick talker, one who
usually talks in a rapid manner; some people may lead their
lives in the fast lane, not in the rapid lane or in the quick
lane; he has a quick mind, not a rapid mind or a fast mind; he
gave her a quick glance, not a rapid glance or a fast glance;
and rapid is the usual term when reference is made to a
persons strides, especially metaphorical strides: Tom has made
rapid strides in his math this term. In brief, fast, quick and
rapid are not true synonyms.
Quite often, words that appear synonymous at first glance
actually refer to slightly different sets of concepts or are used in
different situations. The fact that there are few true synonyms in
the lexicon of a language reflects the general tendency of language
users to make most of what is available to them. If two terms have the
same referent, the meaning of one of them is usually modified to
express differences in referential, social or affective meaning27.
Although true synonymy is rare, the notion is useful because it
helps describe similarities between the meanings of different
terms in the lexicon. [Finegan, 1994: 168]

27

In other words, synonyms usually have different connotations: mother, Mum,

Mom, Mummy, and Mommy.

64

2.10.2.2 Partial synonymy

Partial synonymy is a relation in which a polysemous word
shares one of its meanings with another word.
For example, one meaning of deep is synonymous with
profound in the pair of sentences marked (1)a-b. In other words,
deep and profound can be used interchangeably in (1)a-b. No
such interchange can be found in (2)a-b:
(1)a. You have my deep sympathy.
(1)b. You have my profound sympathy.
(2)a. The river is very deep at this point.
(2)b. *The river is very profound at this point.
Partial synonymy leads to collocations: a bunch of keys, a
herd of sheep, a school of ants, a flock of birds, a group of
teachers, a gang of thieves, etc.
Exercise 11: The following pairs of words are partial synonyms,
i.e. they do not share all their senses. For each pair, (a) gives a
sentence in which the two can be used interchangeably; (b)
gives another sentence in which only one of them can be used.
1. strong/powerful
(a) ________________________________________________
(b) ________________________________________________
2. ripe/mature
(a) ________________________________________________
(b) ________________________________________________
65

3. broad/wide
(a) ________________________________________________
(b) _______________________________________________
4. soil/earth
(a) ________________________________________________
(b) ________________________________________________
5. edge/side
(a) ________________________________________________
(b) ________________________________________________
6. permit/allow
(a)_________________________________________________
(b)_________________________________________________
Exercise 12: Identify various meanings of each of the two given
polysemous words and then point out which meaning exemplify
partial synonymy.
1. deep
(i) This is a deep well.
(ii) He only gave a deep sigh.
(iii) You have my deep sympathy.
(iv) With his hands deep in his pockets, he went away.
The ________ meaning of deep is synonymous with __________.

66

2. broad
(i) The river is very broad at this point.
(ii) He just gave a broad smile.
(iii) Luckily, my boss is a man of broad views.
(iv) He speaks English with a broad Yorkshire accent.
The _________ meaning of broad is synonymous with ________.

2.11 Antonymy
2.11.1 Definition
Antonymy is a relation in which two words have different
(written and sound) forms and are opposite in meaning.
Ex1: Pass--fail, hot--cold and thinner--fatter are three
pairs of antonyms.
Ex2: True--false, big--small and buy--sell are three pairs of
antonyms.

2.11.2 Classification
2.11.2.1 Binary antonymy28 and gradable antonymy
2.11.2.1.1 Below is probably a common way of telling binary
antonymy from gradable antonymy:
Binary antonymy is a relation in which two members of a pair
of antonyms:

28

Binary antonymy is also referred to as complementary antonymy.

67

(a) are mutually exclusive: not alive is dead and not dead is alive.
(b) cannot be used in a comparative or superlative sense:
*He is more single/more married than his brother.
(c) cannot be used in questions with how to ask about degrees:
*How single/How married is he?
Thus, alive--dead and married--single are two pairs of
binary antonyms.
Gradable antonymy is a relation in which two members of a
pair of antonyms:
(a) are gradable: between hot and cold are three
intermediate terms [Palmer, 1981: 95] warm, tepid (or
lukewarm) and cool.
(b) can be used in a comparative or superlative sense: wider is
less narrow, more difficult is less easy, etc.
(c) can be used in questions with how to ask about degrees:

How difficult is the test?29

Thus, hot--cold and difficult--easy are two pairs of
gradable antonyms.
2.11.2.1.2 The distinction between binary antonymy and
gradable antonymy is sometimes blurred by language users. In
English, for example, it is reasonable to assume that whatever is
alive is not dead and that whatever is dead is not alive, and thus
29

How easy is the test? is also possible, but its context is very restricted, e.g. to
show that one can manage to pass the test without any difficulty.

68

that the adjectives dead and alive form a pair of binary antonyms.
However, we do have expressions like half-dead, barely alive,
and more dead than alive, which suggest that, in some contexts,
we see alive and dead as gradable antonyms. Nevertheless, the
distinction between the two types of antonyms is useful in
that it describes an important distinction between two types of
word relationships.
2.11.2.2 Relational antonymy
Two members of a pair of relational antonyms30 display
symmetry in their meaning. The if, then formula can be
used to test and identify relational antonyms: if Mr. Brown is
Jacks employer, then Jack is Mr. Browns employee; if Jenny is
thinner than Mary, then Mary is fatter than Jenny; if John
bought a car from Fred, then Fred sold a car to John; etc.
Thus, buy--sell, employer--employee, and thinner--fatter
are three pairs of relational antonyms.

Relational antonyms belong to various word classes:

Verbs: buy--sell, give--receive, lend--borrow, import-export, own--belong to, etc.
 Nouns: employer--employee, grandparent--grandchild,
father/mother--son/daughter, fiance--fiancee,
parent--child/offspring, professor--student,
teacher--pupil, doctor--patient, debtor--creditor,
landlord/landlady--tenant, husband--wife,
uncle/aunt--nephew/niece, etc.

30

Relational antonyms are also called converses.

69

 Comparative adjectives: thinner--fatter, cheaper -more expensive, greater than--less than, etc.
 Comparative adverbs: more efficiently--less efficiently,

faster--more slowly, etc.

 Prepositions: above--below, in front of--behind,

over--under, before--after, north of--south of,

west of--east of, etc.

2.11.3 Antonymy and (un)markedness

Words that are in an antonymous relationship often do
not have equal status with respect to markedness. In a pair of
antonyms, one member is more unmarked (or less marked) and

the other is more marked (or less unmarked), e.g. high--low, tall-short, heavy--light, far--near, expensive--cheap, hot--cold,
long--short, wide--narrow, deep--shallow, difficult--easy,
married--single, well--badly, etc.
The unmarkedness of one member of any pair of antonyms
enables it to occur in questions of degree like How heavy is it?
(not How light is it?), How tall are you? (not How short are
you?), How deep is the canal? (not How shallow is the canal?),
How expensive is this bracelet? (not How cheap is this bracelet?),
How well can you speak English? (not How badly can you speak
English?), etc.
Similarly, since married is less marked than single, we say we
talk about ones marital status, and not about ones single status.
70

Exercise 13: Are the following pairs of words binary antonyms?

(1) chalk--cheese

Yes / No

(4) dead--alive

Yes / No

(2) same--different Yes / No (5)married--unmarried

Yes / No

(3) copper--tin

Yes / No

Yes / No

(6) cheap--expensive

Exercise 14: Are the following pairs of words relational

antonyms?
(1) below--above Yes / No

(4)grandparent--grandchild Yes / No

(2) love--hate Yes / No

(5) greater than--less than Yes / No

(3) conceal--reveal 31 Yes / No (6) own--belong to

Yes / No

Exercise 15: Identify the continuous scale of values between the

two given words.
1. love--hate: _________________________________________
2. hot -- cold: _________________________________________
3. big -- small: _________________________________________
4. rich -- poor: ________________________________________
5. none -- all: _________________________________________
6. possibly -- certainly: ________________________________
7. never--always: ______________________________________
31

Conceal sb/sth (from sb/sth) = keep sb/sth from being seen or known about:
- He tried to conceal/did not reveal his heavy drinking from his family.
Reveal sth (to sb) = make sth known (to sb):
- The doctor did not reveal the truth to him/concealed the truth from him.

71

Exercise 16: State whether the following pairs of antonyms are

binary, gradable or relational by writing B (binary), G
(gradable) or R (relational):
1. good--bad: ______________

9. import--export: ________________________________

2. pass--fail: ______________

10. better than--worse than: _________________________

3.deciduous--evergreen:_____

11. easy--difficult: ________________________________

4.expensivecheap: ________

12. hot--cold: ________________________________

5.parent--offspring: ________

13. legal--illegal: ________________________________

6. beautiful--ugly: __________

14. asleep--awake: ________________________________

7. false--true:______________

15. rude--polite: ________________________________

8. lessor--lessee: ___________

16. husband--wife: ________________________________

2.12 Homonymy
2.12.1 Distinction between homonymy, homophony and
homography
2.12.1.1 Homonymy is a relation in which various words have
the same (sound and written) form but have different
meanings.
Ex1: Classified as two homonyms are the noun bank1, which
means a financial institution, and the noun bank2, which
means the shore of a river; both being pronounced /b`7k/ in
RP32.

32

Received Pronunciation (usually abbreviated to RP) is most familiar as the

accent used by most announcers and newsreaders on serious national and

international BBC broadcasting channels. Also, it is often most recommended
for foreign learners studying British English. [Roach, 1991: 4]

72

Ex2: Classified as three homonyms are the noun bear, which refers to
a large heavy animal with thick fur, the verb bear1, which
means give birth to, and the verb bear2, which means tolerate;
all being pronounced /be6(r)/ in RP.
2.12.1.2 Homophony is a relation in which various words have
the same sound form33 but have different meanings and
written forms.
Ex1: Classified as two homophones are the noun hour, which
means a twenty-fourth part of a day and night, and the
possessive adjective our, which means belonging to us; both
being pronounced /a6(r)/ in RP.
Ex2: Classified as two homophones are the noun place, which
means a particular area or position in space, and the noun
plaice, which means a type of fish; both being pronounced
/ple1s/ in RP.
2.12.1.3 Homography is a relation in which various words
have the same written form34 but have different meanings
and sound forms.
Ex1: Classified as two homographs are the verb lead /li:d/ in Does
this road lead to town and the noun lead /led/ in Lead is a
heavy metal.
Ex2: Classified as two homographs are the bare infinitive form
read /ri:d/ and the past tense form read /red/.

33
34

also referred to as pronunciation

also referred to as spelling

73

2.12.2 Homophones as a distinct type of homonyms

The terminological relationship between homonymy,
homography, and homophony is not entirely clear. For instance,
homophones that are not homographs are sometimes
classified as a distinct type of homonyms, but the formal identity
of homonyms may also be defined so strictly as to exclude nonhomographic homophones from the class of homonyms (at least
for those languages that have written records). The very fact that
homonyms are different words (i.e., that they are distinct entities in
the lexicon) implies that they are semantically distinct. [Asher
and Simpson, 1994: 1595]
Consider the following table and identify antonymy,
synonymy, homonymy, homophony, and homography via their
main features.
Written form

Sound form

Meaning

antonymy

synonymy

homonymy

homophony

homography

+ : the same or nearly the same;

: different or opposite
74

Among a number of linguists who regard non-homographic

homophones as a distinct type of homonyms are Fromkin and
Rodman [1993: 129]: Homonyms are different words that are
pronounced the same, but may or may not spelled the same. To,
two and too are homonyms because they are pronounced the
same, despite their spelling differences.
These authors and many others may require homonymy redefined:
Homonymy is a sense relation in which various words are
written the same way and/or sound alike but have different
meanings, e.g. feat (strength or courage) and feet (plural of
foot), know (have something in ones mind) and no (not any), row
(a quarrel) and row (a line), wound (an injury) and wound (past of
wind), etc.
Exercise 17: Give the phonemic transcription shared by two
members of each of the given pairs of words to identify
them as a pair of homophones:
The first one is done as an example.
1. altar /0:lt6(r)/

alter

11. herd __________ heard

2. beech __________ beach

12. knight _________ night

3. boar ___________ bore

13. nose __________ knows

4. coarse _________ course

14. leek ____________ leak

5. crews ___________ cruise

15. maid ___________ made

6. deer ____________ dear

16. pail _____________ pale

7. draft ___________ draught

17. reign ___________ rain

75

8. fare ____________fair

18. scene __________ seen

9. flour ___________ flower

19. thrown ________throne

10. grate _________ great

20. whole ___________ hole

Exercise 18: Give the phonemic transcription shared be two

members of each of the given pairs of words to identify
them as a pair of homonyms: The italic words in bracket are
to clarify the meaning in question of the given words.
The first one is done as an example.
1. lie1 (meaning tell lies)

lie 2 (meaning put ones body on a horizontal surface)

Classified as two homonyms are the verb lie1, which means
tell lies, and the verb lie2, which means put ones body
on a horizontal surface; both being pronounced /la1/ in
RP.
2. bat (meaning a tool for hitting in baseball)

bat (meaning the small mouse-like animal that flies at night and
feeds on fruit and insects)
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
3. too (meaning more than should be)

too (meaning also)

______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
76

4. might (meaning great strength or power)

might (expressing possibility)

______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
5. bare (meaning without the usual covering or protection)

bare (meaning uncover or reveal something)

______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
6. sound (meaning thing that can be heard)

sound (meaning healthy or in good condition)

______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
7. lead (as in Does this road lead to town)

lead (as in Hes the chief trouble-maker; the others just follow his
lead)
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Exercise 19: What is the relationship between the words in the
following pairs? If the words are antonyms, specify what kind
of antonyms they are. The italic words in bracket are to clarify
the meaning in question of the given words.
77

The first one is done as an example.

1. true -- false: binary antonymy
2. gloom -- darkness: __________________
3. dark (as in a dark room) -- dark (as in Dont look on the dark
side of things): __________________
4. wind (as in The wind is blowing hard) -- wind (as in wind ones
watch): __________________
5. deny -- admit: __________________
6. host -- guest: __________________
7. sow (as in sow a field with wheat) -- sow (meaning a female
pig): __________________
8. pupil (at a school) -- pupil (of an eye): __________________
9. cheap -- expensive: __________________
10. coarse -- course: __________________

2.13 Polysemy
2.13.1 Definition
Polysemy is a relation in which a single word has two or more
slightly different but closely related meanings.
Ex1: The noun chip has the three following meanings:
(i) a small piece of some hard substance which has been
broken off from something larger: a chip of wood/glass.

78

(ii) a small cut piece of potato which is fried for eating: Can I
try one of your chips?
(iii) a small but vital piece of a computer: This computer has
got a faster chip than the old one.
The three meanings are closely related because they all
contain the semantic feature [+small piece].
Ex2: The verb break has the two following meanings:
(i) separate into two or more parts as a result of force
or strain (but not cutting): He broke that cup.
(ii) become unusable by being damaged; make (something)
unusable by damaging: My watch is broken.
The two meanings are closely related because both contain the
semantic feature [+can no longer be used].

2.13.2 Distinction between polysemy and homonymy

A well-known problem in semantics is how to decide whether
we are dealing with a single polysemous word (like plain) or with
two or more homonyms (like port1, as in The ship left port, and
port2, as in He drank port). In other words, how do you know
when you have separate lexical items rather than a single word
with different meanings?
Using SPELLING as a criterion is misleading: many sets of
words are obviously distinct but have the same spelling as, for
example, the noun sound meaning noise and the adjective sound
meaning healthy, or the noun bank1 meaning financial institution
and the noun bank2 meaning shore of a river.
79

One modestly reliable criterion is the words ETYMOLOGY,

or historical origin. Take as an example the two English words
which derive from different Anglo-Saxon roots: bank1 meaning
financial institution is an early borrowing from French while bank2
meaning shore of a river has a Scandinavian origin.
The various ANTONYMS and SYNONYMS of a word provide
a different kind of criterion that can be useful in distinguishing
between HOMONYMY and POLYSEMY. Since the two senses of
plain, which are (1) clear or easy and (2) undecorated, share a
synonym in simple and an antonym in complex. This fact suggests
that they are indeed two meanings of one and the same
POLYSEMIC word. No such shared synonym or antonym can be
identified for the two meanings of sound, which is, by chance, the
form of two different words, sound1 and sound2, which have the
same spelling and thus, also sound alike.
Another interesting question is whether there is any
COMMONALITY between the different meanings of what
appears to be the same word. The two meanings of plain can be
characterized as devoid of complexity, which suggests that they are
related, but no such description exists for bank1 and bank2. Thus
plain in these two senses is POLYSEMIC, while the two senses of
bank reflect HOMONYMIC lexical items.
There is no doubt that it is often difficult to decide whether a
particular pair of look-alike and sound-alike word forms are
two separate homonymous words or simply a polysemic word
with different meanings. Though HOMONYMY and
POLYSEMY can be distinguished as different notions, the
boundary between them is not clear-cut.
80

Also notice that homonyms like bank1 and bank2, port1 and
port2, sound1 and sound2, etc. are treated in distinct dictionary
entries whereas two or more closely related meanings of the
polysemous word foot, chip, or plain are linked together within
only one dictionary entry.

2.14 Ambiguity
2.14.1 Structural ambiguity
A sentence is considered as structurally ambiguous when its
structure permits more than one interpretation.
For example, we can consider the prepositional phrase with
binoculars in We watched the hunters with binoculars either as
an adjectival to be the post-nominal modifier of the noun phrase
the hunters or as an adverbial to be the optional adjunct of means
of the verb watched.
S
NP1
Pro

S
VP

NP1

Vgrp
NP2
[mono-trans] [dO]
NP3

Pro

AdjP

VP1
VP2

Vgrp
NP2
[mono-trans] [dO]

AdvP
[opA of Means]
PP

We watched the hunters with binoculars. We watched the hunters with binoculars.

81

2.14.2 Lexical ambiguity

Any ambiguity resulting from the ambiguity of a word is

lexical ambiguity.
Ex1. We can interpret the sentence They were waiting at the bank
in two different ways because the two nouns bank bank1,
which means financial institution and bank2, which means
shore of the river are two homonyms.
Ex2. We can interpret the sentence That robot is bright in two
different ways because the adjective bright is a polysemous
word which has two slightly different but closely related
meanings: shining and intelligent.
Thus, both polysemy and homonymy contribute to lexical
ambiguity.
Exercise 20: Explain the lexical ambiguity in each of the
following sentences by providing two sentences that
paraphrase its two different meanings.

The first one is done as an example.

1. They were waiting at the bank.
Meaning one: They were waiting at the financial institution.
Meaning two: They were waiting at the shore of the river.
2. The long drill is boring.
Meaning one: ______________________________________
Meaning two: ______________________________________

82

3. When he got the clear title to the land, it was a good deed.
Meaning one: ______________________________________
Meaning two: ______________________________________
4. The proprietor of the fish store was the sole owner.
Meaning one: ______________________________________
Meaning two: ______________________________________
5. We like the ball.
Meaning one: ______________________________________
Meaning two: ______________________________________
6. They passed the port at night.
Meaning one: ______________________________________
Meaning two: ______________________________________
7. The captain corrected the list.
Meaning one: ______________________________________
Meaning two: ______________________________________
8. He was knocked over by the punch.
Meaning one: ______________________________________
Meaning two: ______________________________________
9. The camel swallowed the chocolate and then ate it.
Meaning one: ______________________________________
Meaning two: ______________________________________
83

Exercise 21: Does polysemy or homonymy contribute to the lexical

ambiguity in each of the two given sentences.
(1) She cannot bear children.
(2) The cat sat on the mat.

________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Exercise 22: In what way are homonyms related to lexical
ambiguity?

________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Exercise 23: In what way is a polysemous word related to lexical
ambiguity?

________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
84

Exercise 24: Explain the structural ambiguity in each of the

following sentences:
1. The drunkard visitor
6. They are cooking bananas.
rolled up the carpet.
2. Is he really that kind?

7. They are moving sidewalks.

3. My fiancee is reserved.

8. John
loves Richard more than Martha.

4. I saw her slip.

9. Old men and women

will be served first.

5. I saw her duck.

10. The thing that bothered Bill

was crouching under the table.

1(a) The drunkard visitor

1(b) The drunkard visitor
rolled up the carpet.
rolled up the carpet.

2(a) Is he really that kind?

2(b) Is he really that kind?

3 (a) My fiancee is reserved.

3(b) My fiancee is reserved.

85

4(a) I saw her slip.

4(b) I saw her slip.

5(a) We saw her duck.

5(b) We saw her duck.

6(a) They are cooking bananas. 6(b) They are cooking bananas.

7(a) They are moving sidewalks.

7(b) They are moving sidewalks.

8(a) John loves Richard

8(b) John loves Richard

more than Martha.

more than Martha.

86

9(a) Old men and women

9(b) Old men and women

will be served first.

will be served first.

10(a) The thing that bothered Bill

10(b)The thing that bothered Bill

was crouching under the table.

was crouching under the table.

2.15 Anomaly
2.15.1 Definition
Anomaly is a violation of semantic rules to create
nonsense. [Finegan, 1993: 148]
Ex1. That bachelor is pregnant is semantically anomalous because
bachelor is [+male] whereas pregnant is [+female].
Ex2. My brother is the only child in the family is an English
sentence that is grammatically correct and syntactically
perfect; however, it is semantically anomalous because it
represents a contradiction. The meaning of brother includes
the semantic feature [+having at least one sibling] whereas
the only child in the family is [+having no other sibling].
87

2.15.2 Anomaly and contradiction

Anomaly involves us in the notion contradiction in the sense that
semantically anomalous sentences constitute a type of
contradictory sentences. For example, John killed Bill, who
remained alive for many years after is semantically anomalous
because the so-called sentence represents a contradiction: no living
organism can remain alive after being killed. In fact, Bill died right at
the moment John killed him.
Exercise 25: Explain the anomaly of each of the following
sentences.
1. Christopher is killing phonemes.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
2. My brother is a spinster.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
3. The boy swallowed the chocolate and then chewed it.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
4. Babies can lift one ton.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
88

5. Puppies are human.

______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
6. My unmarried sister is married to a bachelor.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
7. The bigger key and John opened the door.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
8. James sliced the ideas.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
9. Jacks courage chewed the bones.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
10. I hear the cloud.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
11. The tiger remained alive for an hour after the hunter killed it.
89

______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Exercise 26: How can each of the given sentences be changed to
avoid anomaly?
1. ____________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________
4. ____________________________________________________
5. ____________________________________________________
6. ____________________________________________________
7. ____________________________________________________
8. ____________________________________________________
9. ____________________________________________________
10. ___________________________________________________
11. __________________________________________________

90

Section

SENTENCE MEANING

SENTENCE MEANING is what a sentence means,

regardless of the context and situation in which it may be used.
[Hurford and Heasley, 1984: 269]

3.1 Proposition, utterance and sentence

3.1.1 A PROPOSITION is that part of the meaning of the
utterance of a declarative sentence which describes some
state of affairs. The state of affairs typically involves persons or
things referred to by expressions in the sentence. In uttering a
declarative sentence a speaker typically asserts a proposition.
[Hurford and Heasley, 1984: 19]
Ex1. The following pair of sentences expresses the same
proposition:
1(a) Harry took out the garbage.
1(b) Harry took the garbage out.
The following pair of sentences expresses different propositions:
2(a) Isobel loves Tony.
2(b) Tony loves Isobel.

91

Ex2. The following pair of sentences expresses the same

proposition:
3(a) John gave Mary a book.
3(b) Mary was given a book by John.
The following pair of sentences expresses different propositions:
4(a) George danced with Ethel.
4(b) George didnt dance with Ethel.
Exercise 27: Do the two following sentences have the same
proposition?
(1) Mr Dindlay killed Janet.
(2) Mr Dindlay caused Janet to die.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
Exercise 28: Explain why the two members of each of the
following pairs of sentences35 do not share the same
proposition.

35

This means the two members of each pair are not paraphrases of each other.

92

1(a) John is the parent of James. 3(a) The fly was on the wall.
1(b) James is the parent of John. 3(b) The wall was under the fly.
2(a) The hunter bit the lion.

4(a) Jack was injured by a stone.

2(b) The lion bit the hunter.

4(b) Jack was injured with a stone.

______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
3.1.2 Distinction between a proposition and a sentence
Propositions, unlike sentences, cannot be said to belong to
any particular language. Sentences in different languages can
correspond to the same proposition, if the two sentences are
perfect translations of each other. [Hurford and Heasley, 1984:
21-22] For example, English Iam cold, French Jai froid, German
Mir ist kalt and Vietnamese Toi lanh can, to the extent to which
they are perfect translations of each other, be said to correspond to
the same proposition.
93

3.1.3 Distinction between an utterance and a sentence

An UTTERANCE is the USE by a particular speaker, on a
particular occasion, for a particular purpose, of a piece of
language, such as a sequence of sentences, or a single phrase,
or even a single word. [Hurford and Heasley, 1984: 15]
A SENTENCE is neither a physical event nor a physical
object. It is conceived abstractly, a string of words put
together by the grammatical rules of a language. A sentence
can be thought of as the IDEAL string of words behind various
realizations in utterances and inscriptions. [Hurford and Heasley,
1984: 16]
Jane: Coffee? Would you like some coffee?
Steve: Sure!

Im sure to love it.

Jane: White?

Would you like (black coffee or) white coffee?

Steve: Black.

Id like black coffee, please.

(One-word utterances)

(Well-formed sentences)

The distinction between sentence and utterance is of

fundamental importance to both semantics and pragmatics.
Essentially, we want to say that a sentence is an abstract
theoretical entity defined within a theory of grammar, while
utterance is the issuance of a sentence. [Levinson, 1983: 18]
Utterances of non-sentences, e.g. short phrases or
single words, are used by people in communication all the time.
People do not converse wholly in (tokens of) well-formed
sentences. But the abstract idea of a sentence is the basis for
understanding even those expressions, which are not
94

sentences. In the overwhelming majority of cases, the meaning of

non-sentences can be best analysed by considering them to be
abbreviations, or incomplete versions, of whole sentences.
[Hurford and Heasley, 1984: 18]
The term utterance can be used to refer either to the
process (or activity) of uttering or to the product of that
process (or activity). Utterances in the first of these two senses
are commonly referred to nowadays as speech acts; utterances in
the second sense may be referred to in a specialized sense of
the term as inscriptions36. [Lyons, 1995: 235]

3.1.3 Distinction between a proposition, a sentence and an

utterance
3.1.3.1 It is useful to envisage the kind of family tree
relationship between the three notions shown in the diagram. For
example, a single proposition could be expressed by using
several sentences (say The Monday Club deposed Mrs Thatcher, or
Mrs Thatcher was deposed by The Monday Club) and each of these
sentences could be uttered an indefinite number of times.
[Hurford and Heasley, 1984: 23]
PROPOSITION

SENTENCE

SENTENCE

SENTENCE

UTTERANCE UTTERANCE UTTERANCE UTTERANCE UTTERANCE UTTERANCE

36

The term inscriptions is not widely used by linguists. It must be interpreted

as being more appropriate to the written than it is to the spoken language.
[Lyons, 1995: 235]

95

3.1.3.2 Also, it is interesting to note that the same

proposition can be expressed by different sentences and that
the same sentence can be realised by different utterances on
particular occasions.
Exercise 29: Fill in the following chart given by Hurford and
Heasley [1984: 23] with + or as appropriate. Thus, for
example, if it makes sense to think of a proposition being a
particular regional accent, put a + in the appropriate box; if
not put a .
Utterances

Sentences

Propositions

Can be loud or quiet

Can be grammatical or not
Can be true or false
In a particular regional accent
In a particular language

3.2 Sentence types (classified according to truth value37)

37

You can understand well-formed sentences of your language without knowing

their truth value. Knowing the truth conditions is not the same as knowing the
actual facts. Rather, the truth conditions, the meaning, permit you to examine
the world and learn the actual facts Knowing a language includes knowing
the semantic rules for combining meanings and the conditions under which
sentences are true or false. [Fromkin and Rodman, 1993: 146]

96

3.2.1 An ANALYTIC sentence is one that is necessarily

TRUE, as a result of the senses of the words in it. [Hurford and
Heasley, 1984: 91-92]
Ex1. All elephants are animals.
The truth of this sentence follows from the senses of
elephants and animals.
Ex2. Sams wife is married.
The truth of this sentence follows from the senses of wife and
married.
3.2.2 A contradictory sentence, which is also called A
CONTRADICTION38, is a sentence that is necessarily FALSE, as a
result of the senses of the words in it. Thus a contradiction is in a
way the opposite of an analytic sentence. [Hurford and Heasley,
1984: 93]
Ex1. This animal is a vegetable is a contradictory sentence; it
must be false because of the senses of animal and vegetable.
Ex2. Sam is older than himself 39 is a contradictory sentence; it
must be false because of the senses of older than and
himself. In fact, Sam can be older (or younger) than somebody
else, but not than himself.

A contradictory sentence is also referred to as a contradiction by Peccei

[1999: 9] and Hurford and Heasley [1984: 93]. Goddard [1998: 17] uses the term
contradiction to refer to a somewhat different notion: Contradiction is where a
sentence must be false because of the meanings involved.
39
Notice that Sam looks older than he is proves to be a synthetic sentence.
38

97

3.2.3 A SYNTHETIC sentence is one which is NOT analytic,

but may be either true or false, depending on the way the world
is. [Hurford and Heasley, 1984: 92]
Ex1. John is from Ireland.
There is nothing in the senses of John, Ireland or from
which makes the sentence necessarily true or false.
Ex2. Sams wife is German.
There is nothing in the senses of Sams, wife or German
which makes the sentence necessarily true or false.
Exercise 30: Circle the following sentences A for analytic, S for
synthetic or C for contradiction, as appropriate.
1. Johns nine-year-old brother is a boy.

A/S/C

2. Johns brother is nine years old.

A/S/C

3. Cats are not vegetables.

A/S/C

4. No cats like to bathe.

A/S/C

5. Cats never live more than 20 years.

A/S/C

6. My watch is slow.

A/S/C

7. My watch is a device for telling the time.

A/S/C

8. That girl is her own mothers mother.

A/S/C

9. That boy is his own fathers son.

A/S/C

10. Alice is Kens sister.

A/S/C

11. Some typewriters are dusty.

A/S/C

12. If it breaks, it breaks.

A/S/C

13. John killed Bill, who remained alive for many years after. A / S / C
14. Bachelors cannot form lasting relationships.

A/S/C

15. Bachelors are lonely.

A/S/C

98

3.3 Paraphrase
3.3.1 Definition
3.3.1.1 PARAPHRASE is the relationship between a word
and a combination of other words with the same meaning. For
instance, many people would agree that loud means something like
can be heard from far away. Ultimately, the whole project of
describing or explaining word-meanings depends on paraphrase
because we must use words or other equivalent symbols
to explain other words. [Goddard, 1998: 18]
3.3.1.2 When asked what a sentence means, people usually
provide another sentence that has virtually the same
meaning, a paraphrase. [Peccei, 1999: 3]
3.3.1.3 A sentence which expresses the same proposition
as another sentence is a paraphrase of that sentence.
[Hurford and Heasley, 1984: 104]
3.3.1.4 Sentences are paraphrases if they have the same
meaning (except possibly for minor differences in
emphases). [Fromkin and Rodman, 1993: 132]
Consider the two following sentences:
(1) The girl kissed the boy.
(2) The boy was kissed by the girl.
Although there may be a difference in the emphasis in these two
sentences in the second the emphasis is on what happened to the
boy, whereas in the first the emphasis is on what the girl did the
meaning relations between the verb kiss and the two noun
99

phrases the girl and the boy are the same in both cases, and on
this basis the two sentences are paraphrases of each other.
3.3.2 Possible ways to paraphrase a sentence
There are a variety of ways that we could paraphrase a sentence:
(1) Change individual words:
1(a) using synonyms:
Cats DRINK cream. Domestic felines CONSUME
the liquid fat of milk.
1(b) using relational antonyms (also called converses):
I LENT that book to Jim. Jim BORROWED that book from me.
(2) Change sentence structure:
Cats DRINK cream. Cream IS DRUNK by cats.
(3) Change both individual words and sentence structure:
Cats DRINK cream. The liquid fat of milk IS DRUNK
by domestic felines.
To provide a paraphrase we use our knowledge of both the
meanings of individual words and of the English grammar.
Exercise 31: The following pairs are paraphrases of each other.
Identify the way employed to paraphrase them.
1(a) The house was CONCEALED by the tree.
1(b) The house was HIDDEN by the tree.
100

2(a) The needle is too short.

2(b) The needle is not long enough.
3(a) Some countries have no coastline.
3(b) Not all countries have a coastline.
4(a) Watching television is not a waste of time.
4(b) Watching television is a good way to spend ones time.
5(a) My friend LOATHES string beans.
5(b) My pal HATES pole beans.
6(a) Ill LOOK FOR that book right now.
6(b) Ill SEEK FOR that book at once/immediately.
7(a) Steve HUGGED Jane.
7(b) Steve GAVE Jane a hug.
8(a) John is the parent of James.
8(b) James is the child of John.
9(a) My father OWNS this car.
9(b) This car BELONGS TO my father.
10(a) John SOLD the book to David.
10(b) David BOUGHT the book from John.
11(a) Steve HUGGED Jane.
11(b) Jane WAS HUGGED by Steve.
101

12(a) We HAD hardly BEGUN our work when it rained.

12(b) Hardly HAD we BEGUN our work when it rained.
13(a) Sitting in one place for so long is very uncomfortable.
13(b) It is very uncomfortable to sit in one place for so long
14(a) I saw Ted at the party.
14(b) It was Ted that I saw at the party.
15(a) The nearest service station is 50 miles away.
15(b) It is 50 miles to the nearest service station.
16(a) Jenny and Kevin are twins.
16(b) Kevin and Jenny are twins.
17(a) They had a wonderful holiday
even though the weather was bad.
17(b) Despite/In spite of the bad weather,
they had a wonderful holiday.
17(c) They had a wonderful holiday, despite the bad weather.
17(d) They had a wonderful holiday in spite of the bad weather.
18(a) Bachelors PREFER red-haired girls.
18(b) Girls with red hair ARE PREFERRED by unmarried men.
19(a) Sam SLICED the salami with a knife.
19(b) Sam USED a knife to slice the salami.
102

20(a) Considering your condition, we wont press charges.

20(b) Under the circumstances, we wont press charges.
21(a) The laser HAS a wide variety of applications.
21(b) As we have seen, the use of the laser IS numerous.
22(a) In order to make a good impression at a job interview,
you should prepare well for the interview.
22(b) As you can see, it is necessary to be well prepared for

the job interview.

23(a) Synonyms, words that have the same basic meaning,

do not always have the same emotional meaning.

23(b) Many so-called synonyms are not really synonyms at all.
24(a) The composition proficiency requirements as now stated
should not apply.
24(b) I would propose that the standard used to judge international
student papers be relaxed or done away with.
25(a) Although Grants Pass, Oregon, is a fairly small town,
it offers much to amuse summer visitors.
25(b) If you want to give your family a nice, wholesome
vacation, try visiting Grants Pass, Oregon.

103

3.4 Entailment
3.4.1 Definition
3.4.1.1 Entailment is a relationship that applies between two
sentences40, where the truth of one implies the truth of the
other because of the meanings of the words involved. [Goddard,
1998: 17]
For example, John was killed entails John died. Obviously,
John died could not be true any time before it was true that John was
killed.
3.4.1.2 An entailment is something that logically follows
from what is asserted in the utterance. [Yule, 1996: 25]
Shirley: Its so sad. George regrets getting Mary pregnant.
Jean: But he didnt get her pregnant. We know that now.
In the above conversation, Jeans utterance of he didnt get
her pregnant actually entails George didnt get Mary pregnant
as a logical consequence. The entailment (a necessary
consequence of what is said) is simply more powerful than the
presupposition (an earlier assumption41). [Yule, 1996: 32]
3.4.1.3 Entailments are inferences that can be drawn
solely from our knowledge about the semantic relationships

40

For brevity here, as elsewhere in the little textbook, we speak of entailment

between sentences, rather than, more strictly, between the propositions
underlying sentences.

41

Quite contrary to the entailment George didnt get Mary pregnant is the
earlier assumption that George got Mary pregnant.

104

in a language. This knowledge allows us to communicate much

more than we actually say. [Peccei, 1999: 14]

3.4.2 Characteristics
3.4.2.1 Entailment applies cumulatively. Thus if X entails Y
and Y entails Z, then X entails Z. [Hurford and Heasley, 1984: 108]
Take the following as an example:
X, Some boys ran down the street entails Y, Some kids ran
down the street.
Y, Some kids ran down the street entails Z, Some kids went
down the street.
Therefore
X, Some boys ran down the street entails Z, Some kids went
down the street.
3.4.2.2 Hyponymy involves entailment. To say This is a
tulip entails This is a flower, and This is scarlet entails This is
red. [Palmer, 1981: 87] The relation between tulip and flower
and between scarlet and red brings out the HIERARCHICAL
CLASSIFICATION involved in hyponymy.

3.4.3 Types of entailment

There are two types of entailment:
(i) One-way entailment:
The entailments of this first type come about because of
hyponymic relations between words:
Ex1. Alfred saw a bear asymmetrically entails Alfred saw an animal.
105

If Alfred saw a bear then he necessarily saw an animal; but if

Alfred saw an animal, he could have seen a bear but not
necessarily. It could be a big bad wolf, for example.
Ex2. Max ate the pizza asymmetrically entails
Max did something to the pizza.
Since the meaning do something to is found in eat, the
sentence Max ate the pizza asymmetrically entails Max did
something to the pizza; but if Max did something to the pizza,
he could have eaten it but not necessarily. He could have baked
or bought it, for example.
(ii) Two-way entailment42:
The entailments between a pair of sentences are mutual since
the truth of either sentence guarantees the truth of the other.
Ex1. Paul borrowed a car from Sue symmetrically entails
Sue lent a car to Paul.
Ex2. The police chased the burglar symmetrically entails
The burglar was chased by the police.
It is interesting to notice that
hyponymic relations
between words result in a great number of one-way
entailments;  paraphrases are two-way entailments; and 
relational pairs of antonyms such as sell--buy, lend--borrow,
own--belong to, etc. do contribute to two-way entailments.

42

Two-way entailment is also referred as mutual entailment by Peccei [1999: 12].

106

Exercise 32: Use to show one-way entailment and to show

two-way entailment in each of the following pairs of
sentences:
1(a) John is a bachelor.

11(a) Eliza plays the flute.

1(b) John is a man.

11(b) Someone/Eliza plays a musical instrument.

2(a) Im wearing black boots.

12(a) Alan planted roses.

2(b)Im wearing black footwear.

12(b) Someone/Alan planted flowers.

3(a) Mary owns three houses.

13(a) All dogs have fleas.

3(b) Mary owns a house.

13(b) My dog has fleas./Some dogs have fleas.

4(a) Alvin is Marys husband.

14(a) My uncle teaches at the community college.

4(b) Mary is married.

14(b) My uncle is a teacher.

5(a) The wolf killed the bear.

15(a) My pet cobra likes the taste of chocolate.

5(b) The bear is dead.

15(b) My pet cobra finds chocolate tasty.

6(a) My father owns this car.

16(a) The Jones sold their house to the Cruses.

6(b) This car belongs to my father.

16(b) The Cruses bought the house from the Jones.

7(a) I gave Erin the summons.

17(a) Some countries have no coastline.

7(b) I gave the summons to Erin.

17(b) Not all countries have a coastline.

8(a) John is the parent of James.

18(a) I saw Ted at the party.

8(b) James is the child of John.

18(b) It was Ted that I saw at the party.

9(a) Jenny and Kevin are twins.

19(a) It is 50 miles to the nearest service station.

9(b) Kevin and Jenny are twins.

19(b) The nearest service station is 50 miles away.

10(a) The bear killed the wolf.

20(a) Bachelors prefer red-haired girls.

10(b) The wolf was killed

20(b) Girls with red hair are preferred

by the bear

by unmarried men.

107

Exercise 33: What sense relation holds between the two

sentences in each of the following pairs:
1(a) Tom is married to Mary.
1(b) Mary is married to Tom.

6(a) Jim is fatter than Ed

and Ed is fatter than Bob.
6(b) Jim is fatter than Bob.

2(a) John is the father of Neil.

7(a) Some of the students came to my party.

2(b) Neil is the father of John.

7(b) Not all of the students came to my party.

3(a) Dick is a bachelor.

8(a) The fly was over the wall.

3(b) Dick is a man.

8(b) The wall was under the fly.

4(a) Gina plays tennis.

9(a) Jane is a spinster.

4(b) Someone/Gina plays sports.

9(b) Jane is married.

5(a) Kevin boiled an egg.

10(a) The beetle is alive.

5(b) Kevin cooked an egg.

10(b) The beetle is dead.

108

Section

UTTERANCE MEANING

UTTERANCE MEANING is what a speaker means when

he makes an utterance in a particular situation. [Hurford and
Heasley, 1984: 269]

4.1 Presupposition43
4.1.1 Definition and characteristics
4.1.1.1 Presupposition is what a speaker or writer
assumes that the receiver of the message already knows.
[Richards et al, 1987: 228] Thus, John doesnt write poems
anymore presupposes that John once wrote poetry. And
Would you like another beer? presupposes that the person called
you here has already had at least one beer.
4.1.1.2 Presuppositions are inferences about what is
assumed to be true in the utterance rather than directly
asserted to be true:
Faye has looked for the keys directly asserts Faye has

looked for the keys

43

It is proved very difficult for authors in the area to agree on a definition for it. This
definition problem is partly a reflection of the fuzzy boundary between pragmatics
and semantics. [Peccei, 1999: 19]

109

Where has Faye looked for the keys? presupposes Faye

has looked for the keys

Annie has a sofa directly asserts Annie has a sofa
Dont sit on Annies sofa presupposes Annie has a sofa.
[Peccei, 1999: 19]
4.1.1.3 Speakers often make implicit assumptions about
the real world, and the sense of an utterance may depend on
those
assumptions,
which
some
linguists
term
44
presuppositions. [Fromkin and Rodman, 1993: 161]
In the following dialogue, for example, both A and B know (1)
who Simon and Monica are; that (2) Simon has a vehicle, most
probably a car; and that (3) Monica has no vehicle at the moment.
A: What about inviting Simon tonight?
B: What a good idea; then he can give Monica a lift.
4.1.1.4

Presuppositions

can

be

used

to

communicate

information indirectly. If someone says My brother is rich, we assume

that the person has a brother, even though that fact is not
explicitly stated. Much of the information that is exchanged in a
conversation or discourse is of this kind. Often, after a conversation
has ended, we will realize that some fact imparted to us was not
specifically mentioned. That fact is often a presupposition.

44

Other linguists describe the same phenomenon as implication. Presupposition

is used here because it seems to be more widely accepted usage. [Fromkin
et al, 1990: 193]

110

4.1.2 Characteristics
4.1.2.1 The presupposition of an utterance remains the same
under its NEGATION:
(1)a. John stopped smoking.
(1)b. John didnt stop smoking.
(1)a-b both presuppose that John once smoked cigarettes.
(2)a. The dogs tail was cut.
(2)b. The dogs tail wasnt cut.
(2)a-b both presuppose that the dog had a tail.
(3)a. I like his car.
(3)b. I dont like his car.
(3)a-b both presuppose that he owns a car.
4.1.2.2 The presupposition of an utterance remains the same
under its INTERROGATION:
(4)a. John stopped smoking.
(4)b. Did John stop smoking?
(4)c. Why did John stop smoking?
(4)a-c all presuppose that John once smoked cigarettes.
4.1.2.3 The presupposition of an utterance may be cancelled
under its EXTENSION:
(5)a. She didnt feel regret at the over-cooked meat.
(5)b. She didnt feel regret at the over-cooked meat
because it was in fact well-done.
111

(5)a presupposes that the meat was overcooked while (5)b

presupposes that the meat was well-done.

4.1.3 Classification
There exist a number of different types of presupposition.
4.1.3.1 The existential presupposition
A possessive45 noun phrase (abbreviated to NP)
a complete statement: X had / has / will have + an indefinite46 NP
1. They havent spoken to each other since their last weeks quarrel.
(countable noun: singular) their last weeks quarrel
The utterance presupposes that they had a quarrel last week.
2. I lost my watch yesterday at Ben Thanh market.
(countable noun: singular) my watch
The utterance presupposes that I had a watch.
3. That her turtle ran away made Emily very sad.
(countable noun: singular) her turtle
The utterance presupposes that Emily had a (pet) turtle.
4. Johns sister has been in hospital for a week.
(countable noun: singular) Johns sister
The utterance presupposes that John has a sister.
45
46

My, your, their, Johns, the books, etc. make a noun phrase possessive.
The indefinite article a/an makes a singular noun phrase indefinite.
Respectively, to signal that a noun phrase whose head noun is either
uncountable or plural is indefinite, one may use some or a number of instead
of a/an.

112

5. Could you come to our party this weekend?

our party (countable noun: singular)
The utterance presupposes that
we are going to47 have a party this weekend.
6. This is my youngest sister.
my youngest sister
The utterance presupposes that I have a number of younger sisters.
7. I try to hand in this assignment on time. (countable noun: singular)
an assignment of mine = my assignment = this assignment
The utterance presupposes that I have an assignment.
8. Her mothers death was a great blow to Mary.
Mary cant get over her mothers death.
The utterance presupposes that
Marys mother died. (intransitive verb)
Marys mother is dead. (be + adjective)
A definite48 NP a complete statement
There is/was/are/were (not)+ an indefinite NP (+adjunct of place)
There exist/exists/existed + an indefinite NP (+adjunct of place)

Are going to is [+future], [+near], and [+arrangement].

The definite article the as well as the demonstrative adjectives this, that,
these, and those make a noun phrase definite.
47

48

113

9. The American girl next door is having a party.

the American girl next door (countable noun: singular)
The utterance presupposes that
there is an American girl next door.
there is a girl from the USA living next door.
10. Children like all the pictures in this book very much.
all the pictures in this book (countable noun: plural)
The utterance presupposes that
there are/exist a number of pictures in this book.
a number of pictures can be found in this book.
11. The king of Sweden has just left for France.
(countable noun: plural) the king of Sweden
The utterance presupposes that there is/exists a king in Sweden.
The utterance presupposes that the king of Sweden exists.
12. They searched everywhere for the missing child.
(countable noun: singular) the missing child
The utterance presupposes that there was a child who was missing.
The utterance presupposes that a child was missing.
A definite NP an indefinite NP
13. The book you gave me is worth reading.
the book (= which/that) you gave me
The utterance presupposes that you gave me a book.
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4.1.3.2 The factive presupposition

14. Nobody realized that Kelly was ill.
The utterance presupposes that Kelly was ill.
15. Ed realized/didnt realize that he was in debt.
The utterance presupposes that Ed was in debt.
16. I was aware/wasnt aware that she was married.
The utterance presupposes that she was married.
17. It is odd/isnt odd that he left early.
The utterance presupposes that he left early.
18. I am glad that its over.
The utterance presupposes that its over.
19. We regret(ted) telling him the truth.
The utterance presupposes that we told him the truth.
20. He regretted/didnt regret not booking the ticket in advance.
The utterance presupposes that he did not book the ticket in advance.
(The speaker assumes that

the hearer already knows what the ticket is.)

4.1.3.3 The non-factive presupposition
21. I imagined that Kelly was ill.
The utterance presupposes that Kelly was not ill.
22. I dreamed that I was rich.
The utterance presupposes that I was not rich.
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23. We imagined that we were in Hawaii.

The utterance presupposes that we were not in Hawaii.
24. He pretends to be ill.
The utterance presupposes that he is not ill.
25. She pretended that he had understood what she meant.
The utterance presupposes that
he did not understand what she meant.
4.1.3.4 The lexical presupposition
26. Youre late again.
The utterance presupposes that you were late before.
27. The Brazilian team beat the French team again.
The utterance presupposes that
the Brazilian team beat/had beaten the French team before.
28. Im not going to let him come under my roof anymore.
The utterance presupposes that
he often comes under my roof/to my house.
29. I m going to change job.
The utterance presupposes that I have a job already.
30. My sisters going to change job.
The utterance presupposes that my sister has a job already.
The utterance presupposes that
I have a sister and she has a job already.
31. Ive just got a driving license.
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The utterance presupposes that I had no driving license before.

The utterance presupposes that
I did not have a driving license before.
32. Jim wants more popcorn.
The utterance presupposes that
Jim has had/has eaten some popcorn.
33. She managed/didnt manage to pay her debt.
The utterance presupposes that she tried to pay her debt.
The utterance presupposes that
she owed a debt and she tried to pay it.
34. Can you stop making that noise?
The utterance presupposes that you are making that noise.
The utterance presupposes that
there is some noise and you are making it.
35. He stopped smoking.
The utterance presupposes that
he used to smoke/he once smoked.
36. After a while they stopped arguing.
The utterance presupposes that they had been arguing.
37. The police ordered the teenagers to stop drinking.
The utterance presupposes that
the teenagers had been drinking.
(The speaker assumes that

the hearer already knows who the teenagers are.)

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38. They started complaining.

The utterance presupposes that
they had never complained before.
4.1.3.5 The structural presupposition
A Wh-question a complete statement
39. Where did you buy the bike?
The utterance presupposes that you bought a bike.
(The speaker assumes that

the hearer already knows what the bike is.)

40. How long has your grandfather been in hospital?
The utterance presupposes that
your grandfather has been in hospital.
41. When did he leave?
The utterance presupposes that he left.
42. What do you usually do in your free time?
The utterance presupposes that you have some free time
and that you do something at leisure.
43. When did you get your bachelor degree?
The utterance presupposes that you got a bachelor degree.
44. How long have you been selling cocaine?
The utterance presupposes that you have been selling cocaine.
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45. Why dont pigs have wings?

The utterance presupposes that pigs dont have wings.
46. How did you know the defendant had bought a knife?
The utterance presupposes that
you knew the defendant had bought a knife.
(The speaker assumes that

the hearer already knows who the defendant is.)

47. Who is going to give me a lift to the airport?
The utterance presupposes (1) that the speaker needs to go
to the airport, (2) that the hearers already know what the
airport is and where it is located, and (3) that the hearers own
a vehicle, most probably a car, and are able to drive.
A Wh-embedded clause a complete statement
48. I was eating popcorn when Mike smashed the television set.
The utterance presupposes that Mike smashed the television set.
(The speaker assumes that

the hearer already knows what the television set is.)

49. I dont know why Ive got an average mark.
The utterance presupposes that Ive got an average mark.
50. How fast was the car going when it ran the red light?
The utterance presupposes that the car ran the red light.
(The speaker assumes that

the hearer already knows what the car is.)

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51. It is odd how proud he was.

The utterance presupposes that he was proud.
52. I wonder how he managed49 to get the job.
The utterance presupposes that he managed to get a job.
(The speaker assumes that

the hearer already knows what the job is.)

4.1.3.6 The counter-factual presupposition
An if clause a complete statement
53. If I had enough money, I would buy that house.
if I had enough money
The utterance presupposes that I do not have enough money.
54. If I had had enough money, I would have bought that house.
if I had had enough money
The utterance presupposes that I did not have enough money.
55. If you were my friend, youd have helped me.
if you were my friend
The utterance presupposes that you are not my friend.
56. If he hadnt made such a terrible mistake, we would be very
happy now.
if he hadnt made such a terrible mistake
The utterance He managed to get the job presupposes that he tried to get the
job.

49

120

The utterance presupposes that

he did make/made a terrible mistake.
An embedded clause after wish a complete statement
57. They wish they could go on vacation now.
they could go on vacation now
The utterance presupposes that they cannot go on vacation now.

58. I wish I had studied medicine.

I had studied medicine
The utterance presupposes that I did not study medicine.
A clause with a modal perfect verb form a complete statement

59. You shouldnt have seen such a horror film.

The utterance presupposes that

you did see/saw a horror film.

60. You could have talked to the dean.
The utterance presupposes that you did not talk to the dean.
In brief, it is believed that presuppositions are closely
linked to the words and grammatical structures that are
actually used in the utterance and our knowledge about the
way language users conventionally interpret them and that
presuppositions can be drawn when there is little or no
surrounding context. [Peccei, 1999: 22]

121

Exercise 34: Identify the presupposition(s) in each of the

following sentences.
1. I am sorry I cannot find your book right now.

The utterance presupposes that _________________________

________________________________________________
2. On the occasion of my friend's birthday, I intend to buy her a
new vase.

The utterance presupposes that _________________________

________________________________________________
3. The exam is not so difficult.

The utterance presupposes that _________________________

________________________________________________
4. She is not happy about the chemistry course she's taking.

The utterance presupposes that _________________________

________________________________________________
5. We haven't heard anything from Barbara.

The utterance presupposes that _________________________

________________________________________________
6. They were rich.

The utterance presupposes that _________________________

________________________________________________
7. Can you stop playing with your cat?
122

The utterance presupposes that _________________________

________________________________________________
8. She was not aware that her son had an accident.

The utterance presupposes that _________________________

________________________________________________
9. The explosion was so loud that it could be heard from miles
away.

The utterance presupposes that _________________________

________________________________________________
10. I wish I had not booked the tickets.

The utterance presupposes that _________________________

________________________________________________
11. Tom might find the chocolate cake in the kitchen.

The utterance presupposes that _________________________

________________________________________________
12. You will be amazed when you see the view.

The utterance presupposes that _________________________

________________________________________________
13. I am so sorry, I am in a hurry and I can't answer your question
right now.

The utterance presupposes that _________________________

________________________________________________
123

14. She was not aware that it would hurt her so much.

The utterance presupposes that _________________________

________________________________________________
16. Could you drive me to the airport?

The utterance presupposes that _________________________

________________________________________________
17. It took us two days to come back from Hanoi by train.

The utterance presupposes that _________________________

________________________________________________
18. It is going to rain for a long time.

The utterance presupposes that _________________________

________________________________________________
19. I am going to have a final examination in Semantics.

The utterance presupposes that _________________________

________________________________________________
20. We are going to be teachers of English.

The utterance presupposes that _________________________

________________________________________________
21. I think I will pass the exam.

The utterance presupposes that _________________________

________________________________________________
124

22. I hope to have a good result for this exam.

The utterance presupposes that _________________________

________________________________________________
23. But before your encouragement, we would have given up.

The utterance presupposes that _________________________

________________________________________________
24. I got an excellent mark for my essay last time.

The utterance presupposes that _________________________

________________________________________________
25. I missed my class on Monday because I overslept.

The utterance presupposes that _________________________

________________________________________________
26. My sister is going to graduate from university.

The utterance presupposes that _________________________

________________________________________________
27. I've got a good mark for the exam in American Literature.

The utterance presupposes that _________________________

________________________________________________
28. I am going to have a new grammar book.

The utterance presupposes that _________________________

________________________________________________
125

29. When did you give up teaching?

The utterance presupposes that _________________________

________________________________________________
30. When did you stop beating your wife?

The utterance presupposes that _________________________

________________________________________________
31. Fred continued/didn't continue speaking.

The utterance presupposes that _________________________

________________________________________________
32. I cleaned/didn't clean the room.

The utterance presupposes that _________________________

________________________________________________
33. He killed/didn't kill the bird.

The utterance presupposes that _________________________

________________________________________________
34. What was John worried about?

The utterance presupposes that _________________________

________________________________________________
35. Bill drank another glass of beer?

The utterance presupposes that _________________________

________________________________________________
126

36. Could you lend me the novel when you finish it?

The utterance presupposes that _________________________

________________________________________________
37. I can't guess when the rain stops?

The utterance presupposes that _________________________

________________________________________________
38. Please take me to the circus again.

The utterance presupposes that _________________________

________________________________________________
39. He pretended to be pleased with the gift.

The utterance presupposes that _________________________

________________________________________________
40. If only you had taken his offer.

The utterance presupposes that _________________________

________________________________________________
Exercise 35: Which of the following utterances share the same
presupposition?
(1) Did Mike smash the television set?
(2) When did Mike smash the television set?
(3) I was eating popcorn when Mike smashed the television set.
(4) Why did Mike smash the television set?
127

(5) I dont understand why Mike smashed the television set.

(6) I wonder if Mike smashed the television set.
(7) I wonder how Mike smashed the television set.
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________

4.2 Conversational implicature

4.2.1 Introduction
In the middle of their lunch hour, one woman asks another how
she likes the hamburger she is eating, and receives the answer in
(1):
(1) A hamburger is a hamburger.
When the listener hears the utterance marked (1), she first has
to assume that the speaker is being co-operative and intends to
communicate something. That something must be more than
just what the words mean. It is an additional conveyed
meaning, called an implicature. [Yule, 1996: 35]
The notion implicature, which is the shortened form of the
notion conversational implicature (although distinctions between
this and another kind of implicature namely conventional
implicature should be introduced later, in Section 4.3), provides
some explicit account of how it is possible to mean more than
what is really said:
128

(2) A: I hope you brought the bread and the cheese.

B: Ah, I brought the bread.
Bs utterance may implicate that B did not bring the cheese, since
what is not mentioned was not brought.

4.2.2 Definition
Conversational implicature promises to bridge the gap
between what is literally said and what is conveyed.
[Levinson, 1983: 98]
(3)a A: Coffee?
B: It would keep me awake all night.
Bs utterance may implicate that B would rather not drink
coffee.
(4)a A: Have you finished the students evaluation form and
reading list?
B: Ive done the reading list.
Bs utterance may implicate that B has not done the evaluation
form, since what is not mentioned has not been done yet.
(5)a Phil: Are you going to Marks barbecue?
Jean: Well, Marks got those dogs now.
Jeans utterance may implicate that she is not going to Marks
barbecue.

4.2.3 Characteristics

129

4.2.3.1 People may draw somewhat different

conversational implicature from a certain utterance. For
example, not everyone infers from (6)a that Mike was not very
keen on the dessert and from (7)a that Mary does not like the hat:
(6)a Annie: Was the dessert any good?
Mike: Annie, cherry pie is cherry pie.
Mikes utterance may implicate that he was not very keen on
the dessert.
(7)a Virginia: Do you like my new hat?
Mary: Its pink.
Marys utterance may implicate that she does not like the hat.
Respectively compare (3-7)a with (3-7)b to see that a
different conversation implicature may be drawn despite the
fact that the content of the second speakers utterance
remains the same.
(3)b A: We went to see The Omen last night but it wasnt very
scary.
B: It would keep me awake all night.
Bs utterance may implicate that B thinks The Omen is scary.
(4)b A: You look very pleased with yourself.
B: Ive done the reading lists.
Bs utterance may implicate that Bs pleased with himself
because hes done the reading lists.
130

(5)b Phil: His garden looks awful.

Jean: Well, Marks got those dogs now.
Jeans utterance may implicate that Marks dogs have wrecked
the garden.
(6)b Annie: I thought the pie would cheer you up.
Mike: Annie, cherry pie is cherry pie.
Mikes utterance may implicate that it takes more than cherry
pie to cheer him up.
(7)b Virginia: Try the roast pork.
Mary: Its pink.
Marys utterance may implicate that she is not having the
roast pork.
In brief, unlike presuppositions and entailments,
implicatures50 are inferences51 that cannot be made in isolated
utterances. They are dependent on the context of the
utterance and shared knowledge between the speaker and
the hearer. [Peccei, 1999: 30]
4.2.3.2 Conversational implicature can be suspended or
denied. Since conversational implicature is part of what is
50

This is true only for conversational implicatures, not for conventional

51

An INFERENCE is any conclusion that one reasonably entitled to draw from

a sentence or utterance. All entailments are inferences, but not all inferences
are entailments. Implicature is another kind of inference, distinct from
entailment. [Hurford and Heasley, 1984: 279-280]

implicatures.

131

communicated and not said, the speaker can explicitly suspend

or deny that he/she intended to communicate such meaning in
different ways.
The speaker can suspend the implicature that the hearer only
won five dollars by using the expression at least, as in (8)b; the
speaker can deny the implicature by either adding further
information, often following the expression in fact, as in (8)c or
reinforcing the implicature with additional information, as in (8)d:
(8)a. You have won five dollars.
b. You have at least won five dollars.
c. You have won five dollars, in fact, youve won ten!
d. You have won five dollars, thats four more than one.
4.2.3.3 Conversational implicatures are conclusions drawn
from utterances on particular occasions and not from isolated
sentences In this respect the problem of implicature resembles
the problem of how a hearer arrives at the indirect illocutions
of utterances. [Hurford and Heasley, 1984: 280]

4.2.4 Grice theory of conversational implicature

Grice [1975, 1978]52 has proposed a way of analysing
conversational implicature based on the co-operative principle
and its four basic maxims of Quality, Quantity, Relevance, and
Manner.

52

The key ideas concerning conversational implicature were proposed by Grice

in the William James lectures delivered at Harvard in 1967 and still only
partially published. [Levinson, 1983: 100]

132

The co-operative principle, which can be stated simply as

be as helpful to your hearer as you can [Hurford and Heasley,
1984: 281] and which controls the way in which a conversation
may proceed [Palmer, 1981: 173], and its maxims, which are
guidelines for the efficient and effective use of language in
conversation [Levinson, 1983: 101], are expressed as follows:
The co-operative principle
make your contribution such as is required, at the stage at
which it occurs, by the accepted purpose or direction of the talk
exchange in which you are engaged
The maxim of Quality
try to make your contribution one that is true, specifically:
(i) do not say what you believe to be false
(ii) do not say that for which you lack adequate evidence
The maxim of Quantity
(i) make your contribution as informative as required for current
purposes of the exchange
(ii) do not make your contribution more informative than is required
The maxim of Relevance
make your contribution relevant
The maxim of Manner
be perspicuous53, and specifically:
(i) avoid obscurity54
(ii) avoid ambiguity
(iii) be brief
(iv) be orderly
53
54

Be perspicuous means express yourself clearly.

Obscurity means state of being unclear.

133

In short, these maxims specify what participants have to do in

order to converse in a maximally efficient, rational, co-operative
way: they should speak sincerely, relevantly and clearly, while
providing sufficient information. [Levinson, 1983: 101-102] In
fact, these conversational maxims are not always observed.
One way, Grice believes, in which conversational implicatures
may be derived is where the speaker observes the maxims in a
fairly direct way: he may amplify what he says by some
straightforward inferences:
(9) A (to a passer-by): I am out of petrol.
B: Oh; there is a garage just around the corner.
Bs utterance may implicate that the garage is probably open
and A may obtain petrol there.
Another way in which implicatures may be derived is where
the speaker deliberately and ostentatiously breaches or (as
Grice put it) flouts the maxims:
(10) A: Lets get the kids something.
B: Okay, but I veto I-C-E C-R-E-A-M-S.
Bs utterance may implicate that it is not allowed to mention
ice-cream directly in front of the kids.
In this example, B ostentatiously infringes the maxim of
Manner (be perspicuous) by spelling out the word ice-creams, and
thereby conveys to A that B would rather not have ice-creams
mentioned directly in the presence of the children, in case they are
thereby prompted to demand some. [Levinson, 1983: 104-105]

4.2.5 Classification
134

The two following types of conversational implicature are

both of great interest.
4.2.5.1 Those that derive from the
conversational maxims:

observation of

Maxim of Quantity: Make your contribution as informative as required and

do not make your contribution more informative than
is required.
(11) Mother: Have you finished your homework
and put your books away?
Son: I have finished my homework.
Bs utterance may implicate that B has not put his books away
or the books have not been put away yet.
Maxim of Relevance: Make your contribution relevant.
(12) A: Can you tell me the time?
B: Well, the milkman has come.
Bs utterance may implicate that B does not know the exact time of
the present moment, but B can provide some information from
which A may be able to deduce the approximate time, namely
the milkman has come.
4.2.5.2 Those that derive from the violation of conversational
maxims:
Maxim of Quality: Make your contribution one that is true.
(13) A: John has two PhDs.
B: John has two PhDs but I dont believe he has.
Bs utterance may implicate that A should be suspicious of the
true value of Johns two PhDs.
135

Here Bs contribution, taken literally, is pragmatically

anomalous because, by violating the maxim of Quality, it
contradicts the standard Quality implicature55 that one
believes what one asserts. [Palmer, 1981: 105] At some
deeper (non-superficial) level, however, Bs contribution should
not in fact be anomalous for implicatures (as we shall see) are
deniable. [Levinson, 1983: 105]
(14) A: Does your farm contain 400 acres56?
B: I dont know that it does, and I want to know if it does.
Bs utterance may implicate that B does not think that his/her
farm contains 400 acres.
Bs contribution violates the maxim of Quality by pointing
out that since A does not ask sincerely and hence does not lack and
require the requested information, B does not need to try to make
his/her response one that is true, i.e. B is also free to say what
he/she believes to be false.
Maxim of Relevance: Make your contribution relevant.
(15) A: Wheres Bill?
B: Theres a yellow VW outside Sues house.
Bs utterance may implicate that if Bill has a yellow VW, he is
now in Sues house.
Bs contribution, taken literally, fails to answer As question,
and thus seems to violate at least the maxims of Quantity and
Relevance. Despite this apparent failure of co-operation, there
could be possible connection between the location of Bill and that
Levinson [1983: 104] calls the inferences that arise from observing the four
basic maxims of conversation standard implicatures.
56
An acre is a measure of land which equals 4,050 square meters or 4,840 square
yards.
55

136

of a yellow VW. Thus, at some deeper (non-superficial) level, Bs

contribution is in fact co-operative since it implicates that Bill is
probably in Sues house.
Exercise 36: Write down one implicature that can be drawn from
the second speakers response in each of the following
conversations:
(1) Mary: Did you manage to fix that leak?
Jim: I tried to.
Jims utterance may implicate that ______________________
________________________________________________________
(2) Steve: What happened to your flowers?
Jane: A dog got into the garden.
Janes utterance may implicate that ______________________
________________________________________________________
(3) Laura: Who used all the printer paper?
Dick: I used some of it.
Dicks utterance may implicate that _____________________
________________________________________________________
(4) Gina: I hear youre always late with the rent.
Robin: Well, sometimes I am.
Robins utterance may implicate that ____________________
________________________________________________________
(5) Jenny: Mike and Annie should be here by now. Was their
plane late?
Alfred: Possibly.
137

Alfreds utterance may implicate that ____________________

________________________________________________________
(6) Gwen: This cheese looks funny. The label said not to store the
cheese in the freezer.
Alvin: Yeah, I did see the label.
Alvins utterance may implicate that _____________________
________________________________________________________
(7) Mat: Whats with your mother?
Bob: Lets go to the garden.
Bobs utterance may implicate that ______________________
________________________________________________________
(8) Carmen: Did you buy the car?
Maria: It cost twice as much as I thought it would.
Patricias utterance may implicate that ___________________
________________________________________________________
(9) Robert: Wheres the salad dressing?
Gabriela: Weve run out of olive oil.
Gabrielas utterance may implicate that __________________
________________________________________________________
(10) Maggie: The bathrooms flooded!
Jim: Someone must have left the tap on.
Jims utterance may implicate that ______________________
________________________________________________________
(11) Austin: Want some fudge brownies?
Jenny: There must be 20,000 calories there.
138

Jennys utterance may implicate that _____________________

________________________________________________________
(12) Alice: Have you seen my sweater?
Max: Theres a sweater on the sofa.
Maxs utterance may implicate that ______________________
________________________________________________________
(13) Phils mother: How did you do on these exams?
Phil: I failed physics.
Phils utterance may implicate that ______________________
________________________________________________________
(14) Paul: I didnt take it.
Virginia: Why do you always lie?
Virginias utterance may implicate that ___________________
________________________________________________________
(15)Tom: It works now.
Janet: When did Eric fix it?
Janets utterance may implicate that _____________________
________________________________________________________
(16) Liza: I hear youve invited Mat and Chris.
Ed: I didnt invite Mat.
Eds utterance may implicate that _______________________
________________________________________________________
(17) A: What are the Nelsons like?
B: They were rich.
139

Bs utterance may implicate that ________________________

________________________________________________________
(18) A: What is this examination in Semantics like?
B: It is so easy this time.
Bs utterance may implicate that ________________________
________________________________________________________
(19) A: Did you get the milk and the eggs?
B: I got the milk.
Bs utterance may implicate that ________________________
________________________________________________________
(20) A: Did Carmen like the party?
B: She left after an hour.
Bs utterance may implicate that ________________________
________________________________________________________
Exercise 37: In each case below decide which maxim has not
been observed and what conversational implicature might
be drawn. Background information is given in square brackets.
(1)A: I really like that dinner.
B: Im a vegetarian.
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
(2) A: Would you like a cocktail? Its my own invention.
B: Well, mmm uh its not that we dont drink.
140

________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
(3) A: How are you?
B: Im dead.
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
(4) A: Were going to the movies.
B: Ive got an exam tomorrow.
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
(5) A: Are you going to Steves barbecue?
B: A barbecue is an outdoor party.
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
(6) Teacher [towards the end of a lecture]: What time is it?
Student: It is 10: 44 and 35.6 seconds.
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
(7) Policeman [at the front door]: Is your father or your mother at
home?
Small boy [who knows that his father is at home]: Either my
mothers gone out shopping or she hasnt.
141

________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
(8) Mother: Now tell me the truth. Who put the ferret in the
bathtub?
Son [who knows who did it]: Someone put it there.
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
4.2.6 Distinction between presupposition and conversational
implicature
4.2.6.1 A presupposition is anything the speaker assumes
to be true before making the utterance [Peccei, 1999: 19]
while a conversational implicature is an inference or an
additional unstated meaning drawn from any conversation.
(1) A: What happened to my calculator?
B: Someone used it this morning.
As utterance presupposes that A
and that the calculator worked well before.

has

calculator

Bs utterance may implicate that it is not B who broke the

calculator.
(2) A: Will your brother go to the conference this afternoon?
B: Hes gone to Hanoi.
As utterance presupposes that B has
and that there will be a conference this afternoon.
142

brother

Bs utterance may implicate that Bs brother will not go to the

conference.
4.2.6.2 Compare their few main properties to distinguish
presupposition from conversational implicature:
PRESUPPOSITION

CONVERSATIONAL IMPLICATURE

Presupposition is more

Conversational implicature is less

It is easily drawn before making an

utterance.

It is derived from observing or

violating one or more maxims and
drawn after a conversation is over.

Ex: Is the Pope Catholic?

Ex: A: Do you like apples?

straightforward and more

objective.

The utterance presupposes that

the Pope does exist in the world.

straightforward and more

subjective/personal.

B: Is the Pope Catholic?

Bs utterance may implicate that

he/she does like apples.

Exercise 38: In each of the following decide whether each of the

inferences in brackets is a presupposition (P) or an implicature
(I) derived from the underlined utterance.
(1) A: My girlfriend lives in New York.
B: My girlfriend lives in Boston. (I have a girlfriend.)
(2) A: What?
B: Why are you laughing at me? (You are laughing at me.)
(3) A: Why is she eating those?
B: Her father didnt give her any supper. (She didnt have any
supper.)
143

(4) A: Is John engaged?

B: Hes bought a ring. (John is engaged.)
(5) A: You look pleased.
B: I managed to pass the exam. (I tried to pass the exam.)
(6) A: Did you finish that report?
B: I started it. (I didnt finish it.)
(7) Paul: I didnt take it.
Virginia: Why do you always lie? (You always lie.)
Exercise 39: In each of the following decide whether each of the
inferences in brackets is a presupposition (P) or an implicature (I).
(1) A: Whats with Jean?
B: She discovered that her central heating is broken.
(Her central heating is broken.)
(2) A: How do you like your bath?
B: Warm. (I dont like it hot.)
(3) A: What do you think of this necklace and bracelet?
B: The bracelet is beautiful. (The necklace is not beautiful.)
(4) A: Has the kitchen been painted?
B: Toms away. (No.)
(5) A: How come Marys all dressed up?
B: Were going to the D-E-N-T-I-S-T.
(Mary hates the dentist.)
144

(6) A: It works now.

B: When did Eric fix it? (Eric fixed it.)

4.3 Conventional implicature

Unlike
conversational
implicatures,
conventional
implicatures dont have to occur in conversation, and they dont
depend on special contexts for their interpretation. Not unlike
lexical presuppositions, conventional implicatures are
associated with specific words and result in additional conveyed
meanings when those words are used. [Yule, 1996: 45] Among
these words are and, but, even, and yet.
(1) Linda suggested black, but I chose white.
The utterance may implicate that the speaker does
something in contrast to what has been suggested.
(2) Even John came to the party.
The utterance may implicate that contrary to the speakers
expectation, John came.
(3) Jenny isnt here yet.
The utterance may implicate that the speaker expects that
Jenny should be there by then.
(4) She put on her clothes and left the house.
The utterance may implicate that there are two action
occurring in sequence, i.e. one after another.

145

4.4 Speech acts

An important part of the meaning of utterances is what
speakers DO by uttering them. [Hurford and Heasley, 1984: 334]

4.4.1 Definition
A speech act is an UTTERANCE as a functional unit in
communication. [Richards et al, 1985: 265]
Quite contrary to the popular belief that actions and words
are entirely distinct, many actions can actually be performed with
words. [Hurford and Heasley, 1984: 235]

4.4.2 Characteristics
A speech act has two kinds of meaning:
(a) locutionary meaning (also known as propositional
meaning), which is its basic literal meaning conveyed by
its particular words and structure(s);
(b) illocutionary meaning (also known as illocutionary
force), which is the effect the utterance might have
on the hearer. [Richards et al, 1985: 265]
Consider the two following sample dialogues:
(1) Sam: I am thirsty.
(= Give me something to drink, please.)
Annie: Ill bring you a glass of water.
The locutionary meaning of I am thirsty is

I am suffering from my thirst.

The illocutionary meaning of I am thirsty is Sam indirectly
requests Annie to give him something to drink.
146

(2) Jane: Can you shut the window?

(= Shut the window, please.)
Janes husband: Certainly.
The locutionary meaning of Can you shut the window? is

I wonder whether you are able to shut the window.

The illocutionary meaning of Can you shut the window? is

Jane indirectly requests her husband to shut the window.

4.4.3 Classification
There are five main types of speech acts, according to Searl
[1981]:
4.4.3.1 The representative describes a state of affairs in the
world: asserting, stating, claiming, affirming, making hypotheses,
describing, predicting, reporting, etc. The representative can
generally be characterized as being true or false.
(3) Tom: Where are you from?
David: Im from Canada.57
Im from Canada is a representative: David directly gives a
piece of information concerning where he was born and grew
up.

57

Describing a state of affairs requested by its preceding question, a response is

usually classified as a representative.

147

(4) Teacher: There are only two seasons in the south: the
dry season and the rainy season.58
Student 1: Then, each season is exactly six months long?
Student 2: Is there any transitional period between them?
There are only two seasons in the south: the dry season and the
rainy season is a representative: the teacher directly informs
his/her students of what the weather is like in the south.
4.4.3.2 The commissive commits the speaker to a course
of action: promising, vowing, threatening, offering, etc.
(5) Jenny: If you dont stop fighting, Ill call the police.
Bill: Call them at once to turn your brother in.
Ill call the police is a commissive: Jenny directly threatens to call
the police if Bill and her brother dont stop fighting.
(6) Alice: When will I receive my reimbursement?
Victor: Authors always pay their debts.
(= Ill pay you back later.)
Authors always pay their debts is a commissive: Victor indirectly
promises to pay Alice back later.
4.4.3.3 The declarative changes the world by bringing

about or altering the state of affairs it names: dismissing,

sentencing, naming, announcing marriage, etc.

58

The teachers statement is true when it is used to describe the weather in the
south of Vietnam, for example. This statement may be false when it refers to
the weather in the south of China.

148

(7) Vicar: I now pronounce you man and wife.

[at the wedding ceremony held in a church]
I now pronounce you man and wife is a declarative: the vicar is
directly announcing the legal and permanent union between a man
and a woman as husband and wife, simultaneously changing their
marital status.
(8) Minister of Education: I resign.
Prime Minister: Youll be free from tomorrow.
(= I dismiss you from your current position.)
I resign is a declarative: the Minister of Education directly
declares to give up his/her current position.
Youll be free from tomorrow is also a declarative: the Prime
Minister indirectly declares to dismiss the Minister of Education
from his/her current position.
This type of speech acts is quite special that it can only count if
the speaker has the appropriate authority to perform the type of acts.
4.4.3.4 The directive intends to get the listener to carry
out an action: commanding, requesting, begging, warning,
challenging, inviting, suggesting, giving advice, etc.
(9) Ed: The garage is a mess.
Faye: Clean it up.
Clean it up is a directive: Faye directly orders Ed to make the
garage tidy.

149

(10) George: How about a dinner out?

Beth: My essay is due tomorrow morning.
(= Leave me alone to write my essay.)
My essay is due tomorrow morning is a directive: Beth indirectly
asks/requests George to leave her alone, writing her essay.
4.4.3.5

The

psychological

expressive

state(s)

or

indicates

the

speakers

feeling(s)/attitude(s)

about

something: greeting, apologizing, complaining, thanking, etc.

(11) Desk clerk: I beg your pardon. Ill be right back.
Client: No problem.
I beg your pardon is an expressive: the desk clerk directly
apologizes to the client for his/her absence for a while.
(12) Jacks friend: This beer is disgusting.
Jack: Why dont you learn to take the bad with the good?
This beer is disgusting is an expressive: Jacks friend directly
shows that he/she extremely dislikes the beer.
Leech (1983) proposed an extra category, which is called the
rogative.
4.4.3.6 The rogative refers to a special kind of directives
which deals with requests for information and which is
typically in form of a question.
(13) Tom: Where are you from?
David: Im from Canada.
150

Where are you from is a rogative: Tom directly asks/requests

David for some information on his nationality or origin.
Peccei [1999: 54] gives the following linguistic expressions
typically related to various types of speech acts:
Speech-act
category
Declaratives

Representatives
Expressives
Directives
Rogatives
Commissives

Example

Typical expression
declarative structure
with speaker as subject and
a performative verb
in simple present tense
declarative structure
declarative structure with
words referring to feelings
imperative sentence
interrogative sentence
declarative structure
with speaker as subject and
future time expressed

We find the defendant guilty.

I resign.

Toms eating grapes.

Bill was an accountant.
Im sorry to hear that.
This beer is disgusting.
Sit down!
Fasten your seat belts.
Where did he go?
Is she leaving?
Ill call you tonight.
We re going to turn you in.

4.4.4 Distinction between direct and indirect speech acts

Speech acts can be classified as direct or indirect. In a direct
speech act there is a direct relationship between its linguistic
structure and the work it is doing. In indirect speech acts the
speech act is performed indirectly through the performance of
another speech act. [Peccei, 1999: 56]
Performing a direct speech act, the speaker utters a
sentence which means exactly what he or she says:
151

1(a) Come in, please. is a direct request.

2(a) It is quite wrong to condone robbery. is a direct assertion
against robbery.
3(a) You should go to the doctor. is a direct piece of advice.
Performing an indirect speech act, the speaker utters a
sentence which does not mean exactly what he or she says:
1(b) Wont you come in? is not merely a Yes-No question. It is an
indirect request made in a very concerned manner.
2(b) Is it right to condone robbery? is an indirect assertion against
robbery though it is in form of a Yes-No question.
3(b) Why dont you go to the doctor? is not used to ask for any
reason. Instead, it is used to give an indirect piece of advice
though it is in form of a Wh-question.
Indirect speech acts are often felt to be more polite ways of
performing certain kinds of speech acts, such as requests and refusals. It
is crucial for any language learner to approach indirect speech acts and
learn how to recognize them and then use them in context.
Exercise 40: Give a situation in which each of the following
utterances occurs, interpret its meaning and then classify it
according to different types of speech acts.
1. Lets go to our place for a beer.
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
2. I dont know how to answer this question.
152

A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
3. Mind your head!
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
4. How nice to see you!
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
5. Who will believe this story?
A:
________________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
6. Is it right to cheat in any exam?
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
7. Would you like a cup of coffee?
A: _____________________________________________
153

B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
8. I was so sorry to hear about your loss.
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
9. Im dead tired now!
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
10. Im awfully sorry I wasnt at the meeting this morning.
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
11. If you dont try your best, youll fail in the exam.
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
12. Why dont you take a seat?
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
______________________________________________________
154

13. How dare you speak to her like that?

A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
14. You look lovely today in your new dress.
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
15. Id sell it if I were you.
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
16. Ill be right back.
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
17. I beg you to reconsider your decision.
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
18. Do you think Im an idiot?
A: _____________________________________________
155

B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
19. May I hand in my final paper the day after tomorrow.
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
20. We select Alfred as the head of our group.
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
21. Ill pay you back in two days.
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
22. We are going to turn you in.
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
______________________________________________________
23. I would appreciate it if you went away.
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
156

24. Can I help you?

A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
25. Ive stopped smoking.
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
26. Goodness!
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
27. Drink a cup of coffee.
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
______________________________________________________
28. That doesnt sound very serious.
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
29. Ive got to go now.
A: _____________________________________________
157

B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
30. Someone said you got fired.
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
Exercise 41: For each of the following utterances, provide two
situations so that one utterance performs two different acts.
Interpret the utterances and identify the acts performed in the
light of the situations you provide.
1. Do you feel better today?
SITUATION 1:
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
SITUATION 2:
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
2. I beg your pardon.
SITUATION 1:
A: _____________________________________________
158

B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
SITUATION 2:
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
3. Its going to rain.
SITUATION 1:
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
SITUATION 2:
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
4. Its snowing.
SITUATION 1:
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
SITUATION 2:
A: _____________________________________________
159

B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
5. I said I didnt.
SITUATION 1:
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
SITUATION 2:
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
6. Theres a bend ahead.
SITUATION 1:
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
SITUATION 2:
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
7. Keep off the grass.
SITUATION 1:
160

A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
SITUATION 2:
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
8. Im very upset that so many of you are talking.
SITUATION 1:
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
SITUATION 2:
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
9. Be aware of dogs.
SITUATION 1:
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
SITUATION 2:
161

A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
10. What else do you want?
SITUATION 1:
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
SITUATION 2:
A: _____________________________________________
B: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________

4.4.5 Distinction between locution, illocution and perlocution

4.4.5.1 A locutionary act is the saying of something which
is meaningful and can be understood. For example, saying the
sentence Shoot the snake is a locutionary act if hearers
understand the words shoot, the, snake and can identify the
particular snake referred to.
4.4.5.2 An illocutionary act is using a sentence to perform
a function. For example, Shoot the snake may be intended as
an order or a piece of advice.
4.4.5.3 A perlocutionary act is the results or effects that
are produced by means of saying something. For example,
shooting the snake would be a perlocutionary act.
162

The above-mentioned three-part distinction by Austin [1962] is

less frequently used than a two-part distinction between the
propositional content of a sentence (the PROPOSITION(S)
which a sentence expresses or implies) and the illocutionary
force or intended effects of speech acts. [Richards et al, 1985:
168-169]
In brief, the LOCUTION of an utterance is producing an
utterance, which is a meaningful linguistic expression [Jule,
1996: 48]; the ILLOCUTION of an utterance is using such an
utterance to perform a function [Richards et al, 1985: 168];
the PERLOCUTION of an utterance is causing a certain effect
on the hearer or others. [Hurford and Heasley, 1984: 243]
Exercise 42: Using the locution, illocution, perlocution
analysis, analyse the underlined utterance in each of the
following dialogues.
(1) Mrs Smiths neighbour: I was so sorry to hear about your loss.
Mrs Smith: Thank you. It was a great shock, but I must get used to it.
Locution:_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Illocution:_____________________________________________
_______________________________________________________

163

Perlocution:____________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
(2) A: Would you like a cup of coffee?
B: Yes, please.
Locution:_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Illocution:_____________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Perlocution:____________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
(3) Son: Can I go out for a while, Mum?
Mother: You can play outside for half an hour.
Locution:_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Illocution:_____________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Perlocution:____________________________________________
_______________________________________________________

164

4.4.6 Felicity conditions

FELICITY CONDITIONS are the conditions which must
be fulfilled for a speech act to be satisfactorily performed
or realized.
The felicity conditions necessary for promises are:
(a) A sentence is used which states a future act of the speaker.
(b) The speaker has the ability to do the act.
(c) The hearer prefers the speaker to do the act rather than not to do
it.
(d) The speaker would not otherwise usually do the act.
(e) The speaker intends to do the act. [Richards et al, 1987: 104]

4.5 Performatives and constatives

4.5.1 Definition
A performative is one that actually describes the act
that

it

performs,

i.e.

it

PERFORMS

some

act

and

SIMULTANEOUSLY DESCRIBES that act. [Hurford and

Heasley, 1984: 235]
For example, I promise to repay you tomorrow is a
performative because in saying it the speaker actually does what
the utterance describes, i.e. he promises to repay the hearer the
next day. The utterance both describes and is a promise.
A constative asserts something that is either true or false.

165

For example, John promised to repay me tomorrow is a

constative because the utterance does not simultaneously do
what it describes, i.e. John promised to repay the hearer the next
day. The utterance describes a promise but is not itself a promise.
Exercise 43: Are the following utterances performative59 (P) or
constative (C)?
1. I NAME this ship Hibernia.

P/C

2. I BELIEVE in the dictatorship of the Proletariat.

P/C

3. I ADMIT I was hasty.

P/C

4. I THINK I was wrong.

P/C

5. I hereby INFORM you that you are sacked.

P/C

6. I GIVE you supper every night.

P/C

7. I WARN you not to come any closer.

P/C

8. I TRY to get this box open with a screwdriver.

P/C

9. I PRONOUNCE you man and wife.

P/C

10. I SENTENCE you to be hanged by the neck.

P/C

Exercise 44: Also note that the most reliable test to determine
whether an utterance is performative is to insert the word
hereby and see if the modified utterance is acceptable. Can
hereby be acceptably inserted in the following utterances?

59

Note that direct performative utterances contain A PERFORMATIVE VERB,

one which, when used in a simple positive present tense sentence, with a 1st
person singular subject, can make the utterance of that sentence
performative. [Hurford and Heasley, 1984: 237]

166

1. I ( ) GIVE notice that I will lock these doors in 60 seconds. Yes/No

2. I ( ) PROMISED him that I would be at the station at 3:00pm.Yes/No
3. It ( ) GIVES me great pleasure to open this building.

Yes/No

4. I ( ) WARN you not to talk to my sister again.

Yes/No

5. I ( ) WARN you that you will fail.

Yes/No

6. They ( ) WARN her that she will fail.

Yes/No

7. I ( ) COMMAND you to teach first-year Semantics.

Yes/No

8. Tokyo ( ) IS the captain of Japan.

Yes/No

9. I ( ) ASK you to mind your head.

Yes/No

10. I ( ) BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty,

Creator of Heaven and Earth.

Yes/No

4.5.2 Characteristics
Performative utterances contain a performative verb and
many have 1st person singular subjects and are in the present
tense. [Hurford and Heasley, 1984: 238] But there are exceptions
to this pattern. Some performatives do not have a 1st person
singular subject.
4.5.2.1 To make his/her utterance more polite, the speaker
tends to replace an active performative with the 1st person
singular subject by its passive version with the 2nd or 3rd
person singular/plural subject:
1(a) You ARE hereby FORBIDDEN to leave this room.
1(b) I hereby FORBID you to leave this room.
167

2(a) Spitting IS hereby FORBIDDEN.

2(b) I hereby FORBID you to spit.
3(a) All passengers on flight number forty-seven
ARE REQUESTED to proceed to gate ten.
3(b) I REQUEST all passengers on flight number forty-seven
to proceed to gate ten.
4(a) Listeners ARE (hereby) REMINDED
that BBC wireless licenses expire on April 9th.
4(b) I (hereby) REMIND listeners
that BBC wireless licenses expire on April 9th.
4.5.2.2 The 1st person singular subject, which is I, can be
replaced by the 1st person plural subject, which is we:
5(a) We hereby THANK you for
the compliments you have paid us.
5(b) My wife and I hereby THANK you for
the compliments you have paid us.
4.5.2.3 The 1st person singular subject, which is I, can be
replaced by the 3rd person plural subject, which is the
management, for example:
6(a) The management hereby WARN customers that
mistakes in change cannot be rectified once the
customer has left the counter.

168

6(b) I hereby WARN customers that mistakes in change cannot

be rectified once the customer has left the counter.
4.5.3 Distinction between explicit performatives and implicit
performatives
Explicit performatives are those that contain A
PERFORMATIVE VERB while implicit performatives are those
that do not contain A PERFORMATIVE VERB.
Ex1. I hereby WARN you that you will fail is an explicit
performative (i.e. a verbalized warning) while If you do
not try your best, youll fail in the exam is an implicit
performative (i.e. an implied warning).
Ex2. I PROMISE to give you a helpful hand when you are in
need is an explicit performative (i.e. a verbalized
promise) while If you need me at any time, just call is an
implicit performative (i.e. an implied promise).
Exercise 45: Fill in each of the blanks with an appropriate word.
The first one is done as an example.
1. Semantics is a branch of linguistics which deals with meaning.
2. __________ is a relation in which various words have the same
written form but have different meanings and sound forms.
3. A ________ is a sentence that is necessarily false, as a result of
the senses of the words in it.
4. _________ is a relation in which the referent of a word is totally
included in the referent of another word.
169

5. A ______ is an ideal string of words put together by the

grammatical rules of a language.
6. _________ is a relation in which two words have different
(written and sound) forms and are opposite in meaning.
7. A _________ is that part of the meaning of the utterance of a
declarative sentence which describes some state of affairs.
8. ___________ is a relation in which various words have the same
sound form but have different meanings and written forms.
9. An ________ is the use by a particular speaker, on a particular
occasion, for a particular purpose, of a piece of language, such as a
sequence of sentences, or a single phrase, or even a single word.
10. The _____ of a word or an expression is the relationship
between that word or expression and the thing, the action, the
event, the state of affairs, etc. it refers to.
11. _________ is a violation of semantic rules to create nonsense.
12. Semantic _______ are the smallest units of meaning in a word.
13. _________ is a relation in which various words have the same
(sound and written) form but have different meanings.
14. Any ambiguity resulting from the ambiguity of a word is
__________ ambiguity.
15. ________ synonymy is a relation in which a polysemous word
shares one of its meanings with another word.
16. A sentence is considered as __________ ambiguous when its
structure permits more than one interpretation.
17. ________ is a relation in which a single word has two or more
slightly different but closely related meanings.
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18. An _____ sentence is one that is necessarily true, as a result of

the senses of the words in it.
19. Semantic meaning is context-free whereas ______________
meaning is context-dependent.
20. _________ is a relation in which various words have different
(written and sound) forms but have the same or nearly the same
meaning.
21. A ______ performs some act and simultaneously describes that
act.

4.6 Politeness, co-operation and indirectness

4.6.1 The principle of politeness
Leech [1983] proposes two maxims concerning the principle
of politeness:
- The approbation maxim: Minimize dispraise of the other;
maximize praise of the other.
- The tact maxim: Minimize the cost to the other;
maximize the benefit to the other.
Accordingly, some utterances seem more polite than others.
The higher the cost of the direct act, the more likely it is for the
speaker to use an indirect form.
(1) Set the table. (the least polite)
(2) Can you set the table?
(3) Could I possibly ask you to set the table? (the most polite)
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4.6.2 Politeness and co-operation

There is no doubt that politeness and co-operation are often
in conflict with each other. Language users must be consciously
aware of this conflict and flexibly apply both of the principles in
face-to-face conversation.
(1) Tom: Do you like the wine I picked out?
Gina: Not really. (+direct, +negative)
(2) Tom: Do you like the wine I picked out?
Gina: Its Italian, isnt it? (direct, +negative)
In (2), Its Italian, isnt it? implies a less than whole-hearted
endorsement of the wine by failing to be relevant since the topic
was the wines taste not its country of origin. Still, Gina was
being more polite than coming right out with the fact that she did
not like the wine as in (1), though she has proved to observe the
maxim of Relevance of the co-operation principle strictly.
4.6.3 Politeness and indirectness
Politeness and indirectness are closely related to each
other and that is why indirect negative responses are more
polite than direct ones:
(1) Jenny: Well, Ive done this. Ive dyed my hair blonde.
Ed: (a) You look awful. (+direct, +negative)
(b) You look amazing. (direct, negative)
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(2) Jean: What did the students say about my teaching?

Kate: (a) Pretty bad. (+direct, +negative)
(b) Lets hope none of them are lawyers.
(direct, +negative)
(c) Some students are very positive.
(direct, +negative)
In (1), the ambiguity of amazing (amazing for its beauty or
amazing for its awfulness) in You look amazing allows the
speaker to be truthful and yet somewhat more polite than the direct
answer You look awful.
In (2), Lets hope none of them are lawyers and Some
students are very positive both imply rather than directly state
that overall the student evaluations were not good and
therefore are more polite than Pretty bad.

4.7 Deixis
4.7.1 Definition
Deixis is a technical term (from Greek) for one of the most
basic things we do with utterances. It means pointing via
language. Any linguistic form used to accomplish this pointing is
called a deictic expression. When you notice a strange object
and ask, Whats that?, you are using a deictic expression
(that) to indicate something in the immediate context. Deictic
expressions are also sometimes called indexicals. [Yule, 1996: 9]

4.7.2 Classification
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Deixis consists of three notions:

(i) Personal deixis can mark a number of overlapping
distinction: person, gender, number, and social relations.
[Finegan, 1994: 178] Pronouns and their alternative forms are
usually markers of personal deixis. The system of English pronouns
contrasts in person between first person, second person and third
person and in number between singular and plural. The gender
distinction is made in English in the third person singular only: he for
masculine referents and she for feminine referents. Unlike French,
for example, the choice of an English pronoun in the second person
does not clearly reflect the social status of referents:
(1) In this family, we rarely smoke or drink.
(2) Did you get the carton of milk I asked you to?
(ii) Spatial deixis is the marking in language of the
orientation or position in space of the referent of a linguistic
expression. [Finegan, 1994: 179] Common markers of spatial
deixis in English are demonstratives (this vs. that) and such
adverbs of place as here, there and the like:
(3) Im over here.
(4) Would you like this one or that one?
(iii) Temporal deixis is the orientation or position of the
reference of actions and events in time. [Finegan, 1994: 180] In
English, temporal deixis can be marked either by such words and
phrases as before, last time, now, then, tomorrow, and the like
or through tense, encoded on the verb with affixes or expressed in
an independent morpheme:
174

(5) I walked to school every day.

(6) Tomorrow is a holiday.

4.7.3 Complexity in the use of deictic expressions

4.7.3.1 As for the first person plural in (7), there is, in
English, a potential ambiguity in such uses which allows two
different interpretations. There is an exclusive we (speaker plus
other(s), excluding addressee) and an inclusive we (speaker and
addressee included). [Yule, 1996: 11]
(7) We clean up after ourselves around here.
4.7.3.2 The distance associated with third person forms
[Yule, 1996: 11] is also used to make potential accusations (for
example, you didnt clean up) less direct, as in 8(a), or make a
potential personal issue seem like an impersonal one, based on
a general rule, as in 8(b):
8(a) Somebody didnt clean up after himself.
8(b) Each person has to clean up after him or herself.
4.7.3.3 If here means the place of the speakers utterance and
now means the time of the speakers utterance, an utterance such as
(9) should be nonsense:
(9) I am not here now.
However, one can say (9) into the recorder of a telephone
answering machine, projection that now will apply to anytime
someone tries to call him/her, not to when he/she actually records
the word.

175

4.7.3.4 Then applies to both past in 10(a) and present in (10)b

time relative to the speakers present time:
(10)a April 29th, 1999? I was in Hanoi then.
(10)b Dinner at 8:30 on Friday? Okay, Ill see you then.
4.7.3.5 The present tense is the proximal form and the
past tense is the distal form. [Yule, 1996: 15] Treated as
distant from the speakers current situation are both, typically,
something that has taken place in the past, as in 11(a), and,
less obviously, something that is treated as extremely
unlikely, as in 11(b):
(11)a At ten, I could ride a bicycle.
(11)b I could buy the house, if I had enough money.
4.7.3.6 There exists in English a distinction between the
near speaker meaning of direct speech and the away from
speaker meaning of indirect speech. [Yule, 1996: 16]
(12)a Ill call you tonight.
(12)b He promised to call me that night.

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ANSWER KEYS
Exercise 1: For each group of words given below, state what semantic features
are shared by the (a) words and the (b) words, and what semantic features
distinguish between the classes of (a) words and (b) words.
The first is done as example.
1. (a) lobster, shrimp, crab, oyster, mussel
(b) trout, sole, herring, salmon, mackerel
The (a) and (b) words are [+edible water animal].
The (a) words are [+shellfish].
The (b) words are [+fish].
2. (a) widow, mother, sister, aunt, seamstress
(b) widower, father, brother, uncle, tailor
The (a) and (b) words are [+human].
The (a) words are [+female].
The (b) words are [+male].
3. (a) bachelor, son, paperboy, pope, chief
(b) bull, rooster, drake, ram, stallion
The (a) and (b) words are [+animate] and [+male].
The (a) words are [+human].
The (b) words are [+animal].
4. (a) table, pencil, cup, house, ship, car
(b) milk, tea, wine, beer, water, soft drink
The (a) and (b) words are [+inanimate] and [+concrete].
The (a) words are [+solid].
The (b) words are [+liquid].
5. (a) book, temple, mountain, road, tractor
(b) idea, love, charity, sincerity, bravery, fear
The (a) and (b) words are [+inanimate].
The (a) words are [+concrete thing].
The (b) words are [+abstract notion].

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6. (a) rose, lily, tulip, daisy, sunflower, violet

(b) ash (tan b), oak (soi), sycamore (sung dau), willow (lieu),
beech (soi)
(c) pine (thong), cedar (tuyet tung), jew (thuy tung), spruce (van
sam), cypress (bach)
The (a) (b) and (c) words are [+plant].
The (a) words are [+flowering plant].
The (b) words are [+deciduous tree].
The (c) words are [+evergreen tree].
7. (a) book, letter, encyclopedia, novel, notebook, dictionary
(b) typewriter, pencil, ballpoint, crayon, quill, charcoal, chalk
The (a) and (b) words are [+non-living thing].
The (a) words are [+thing to read or write].
The (b) words are [+thing used to write or draw with].
8. (a) walk, run, skip, jump, hop, swim
(b) fly, skate, ski, ride, cycle, canoe, hang-glide
The (a) and (b) words are [+motion] or [+way of movement].
The (a) words are [+movement made without the help of any means].
The (b) words are [+movement made with the help of a certain kind of means].
9. (a) ask, tell, say, talk, converse
(b) shout, whisper, mutter, drawl, holler
The (a) and (b) words are [+way of talking].
The (a) words are [+generic].
The (b) words are [+specific].
10. (a) alive, asleep, awake, dead, half-dead, pregnant
(b) depressed, bored, excited, upset, amazed, surprised
The (a) and (b) words are [+state closely associated with living things].
The (a) words are [+physical state].
The (b) words are [+emotional state].
Exercise 2: Identify the semantic features in each of the following words.
mature], [male], [+innocent]1
1. Child: [+human], [

This semantic feature is optional.

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2. Aunt: [+human], [mature], [+female], [+fathers/mothers sister (-in-law)]

3. Hen: [+animate], [+bird], [+fowl], [+fully grown], [+female]
4. Oak (-tree): [+plant], [+deciduous tree], [+tough hard wood]
5. Flower: [+part of a plant], [+colored], [+usually good-smelling],
[+bloom/blossom], [+fruit or seed is developed]
6a. Palm: [+part of a hand], [+inner surface], [+between the wrist and the fingers]
6b. Palm (-tree): [+plant], [+tree] [branches] [+a mass of large wide
leaves at the top], [+in warm or tropical climates]
7. Bachelor: [+human], [+mature], [+male], [+stay single]2
8. Actress: [+human], [+female], [+professionally artistic], [+perform a role]
9. Plod: [+motion], [+walk], [+slowly and laboriously]
10. Ewe: [+animate], [+sheep], [+fully grown], [+female], [+producing wool
and meat]
11a. Fly: [+motion], [+through air or space], [+fast], [+wings or a means of
transport]
11b. Fly: [+animate], [+insect], [+two wings], [+in and around houses]
12. Stallion: [+animate], [+horse], [+fully grown], [+male], [+for breeding]
13. Police-officer: [+human], [male], [+member of the police force],
[+disciplined]
14. Beauty: [+attractive feature], [+combination of shape, color, behavior,
etc.], [+giving pleasure to senses]
15. Imagine: [+mental state], [+form a concept or an image], [+thoughtfulness]
16. Doe: [+animate], [+deer, reindeer, rabbit or hare], [+fully grown],
[+female]
17. Drive: [+motion], [+operate/direct], [+related to a vehicle]
18. Home: [+thing], [+place for human habitation], [+closely related to a
family or its life]
19. Elm: [+plant], [+deciduous tree], [+large rough-edged leaves], [+tough
hard wood]
20. Chalk: [+thing], [+limestone], [+soft], [+white or colored], [+for writing
or drawing]

This semantic feature is required.

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21. Rose: [+plant], [+bush/shrub], [+sweet-smelling flowers], [+different

colors, usually pinkish or red], [+thorns], [+symbol for love]
22. Chick: [+animate], [+bird], [+fowl], [
fully grown], [male]
23. Pap: [+thing], [+food], [+soft or semi-liquid], [+for babies or invalids]
24. Tiptoe: [+motion], [+walk], [+on toes], [+silently]
25. Pine(-tree): [+plant], [+evergreen tree], [+needle-shaped leaves],
[+pale soft wood]
26. Owe: [+state], [+be in debt], [+obligation/duty], [+pay/repay]
27. Computer: [+thing], [+electric/electronic device], [+storing/processing
data], [+making calculations], [+controlling machinery]
28. Honesty: [+abstract notion], [+virtue], [+trustfulness], [+hard to evaluate]
29. Maid: [+human], [+mature], [+female], [+servant]
30. Spinster: [+human], [+mature], [+female], [+stay single]
Exercise 3: How can you distinguish the words given in the following table
from one another, considering their semantic features?
Malay

English
brother

sadara

Vietnamese
anh
em

sister

ch

Chinese
huynh
e
muoi
ty

To distinguish the given words, their one or more prominent

semantic features must be considered with care:
Sadara has one prominent semantic feature: [+born by the same parents].
Brother and sister share their two prominent semantic features:
[+born by the same parents] and [male].
Anh and ch share their three prominent semantic features: [+born by
the same parents], [male] and [+older] while em is marked by its two
prominent semantic features: [+born by the same parents] and
[+younger]. That is, to the Vietnamese people, it is unnecessary to
distinguish the sex of younger siblings though it is a must whenever they deal
with their older siblings.

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 Huynh, e, ty and muoi all share their three prominent semantic

features: [+born by the same parents], [male] and [older].
Exercise 4: Organise the given words (and probably those of your own) into
three semantic fields: shirts, end, short, forward(s), long, hats, lend,
coats, shorts, beginning, trousers, amble, out, limp, tiptoe, plod,
socks, trudge, borrow, stomp, in, stump, backward(s), and tramp.
ANSWER:
(1) Articles of clothing: shirts, socks, hats, coats, shorts, trousers, etc.
(2) Ways of walking3: amble, limp, tiptoe, plod, trudge, stomp,
stump, tramp, etc.

Amble = ride or walk at a slow, leisurely pace: He came ambling down the road.
Limp = walk unevenly, as when one foot or leg is hurt or stiff:
That dog must be hurt hes limping.
Plod (along/on) = walk with heavy steps or with difficulty:
Labourers plodded home through the muddy fields.
Tiptoe = walk quietly and carefully on the tips of ones toes/with ones heels not
touching the ground: She tiptoed to the bed where the child lay asleep.
Trudge = walk slowly or with difficulty because one is tired, on a long journey, etc.:
He trudged along for more than 2 miles.
Stump = walk stiffly or noisily: They stumped up the hill. He stumped out in fury.
Stomp (about, around, off, etc.) = move, dance, or walk with a heavy step (in a

specified direction): She stomped about noisily.

Tramp = walk with heavy or noisy steps: We could hear him tramping about upstairs.
Stomp, stump, plod, trudge, and tramp all indicate styles of walking with
heavy steps. Stomp and stump can both suggest making noise while walking in
order to show anger: She slammed the door and stomped/stumped upstairs.
Additionally, stump can indicate walking with stiffs legs: stumping up the garden
path. Stomp can suggest clumsy and noisy walking or dancing: He looked funny
stomping around the dance floor. Plod and trudge indicate a slow weary walk
towards a particular destination. Plod suggests a steady pace and trudge suggests
greater effort: They had to plod wearily on up the hill. We trudged home through
deep snow. Tramp indicates walking over long distances, possibly with no
specified destination: They tramped the streets, looking for somewhere to
stay the night. [Crowther (ed.), 1992: 908]

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(3) Items which form pairs of antonyms: long/short,

forward(s)/backward(s), in/out, beginning/end, lend/borrow, etc.
Exercise 5: Try to fill in the each of the two blanks with an appropriate word
to prove that there is no lexical gap in the given semantic fields.
sheep
giraffe

ram

ewe

lamb

male giraffe

female giraffe

baby giraffe

Exercise 6: What is identified by the word mean or meaning in the

following examples, i.e. reference or sense? Write R for reference and S
for sense.
1. R; 2. S; 3. S; 4. S; 5. R
Exercise 7: Identify all the possible connotations associated with the word
Christmas.
The word Christmas could call up images of Christ trees, family
gatherings, presents and carols; these associations may be specific for a
particular culture or group of people; they may even be individual. [Asher
and Simpson, 1994: 2155].

Exercise 8: Interpret the meaning the following sentences and state what
kind of figure of speech (also called figurative language) used in each of
them.
1. When he gets going, Jack is a streak of lightning.
Jack is a streak of lightning is a metaphor which means Jack is very
fast.
2. I found the fifty-two pounds of books you left for me to carry.
Your kindness really moved me.
Your kindness really moved me is an expression of irony which
means you were not kind to me at all.
3. The man is a demon for work.

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The man is a demon for work is a metaphor which means the man is
an energetic person who works very hard.

4. When you take that course, plan to study thirty hours a day.
Study thirty hours a day is an overstatement/a hyperbole which
means study for a long time every day.
5. The wind howled angrily around the house all night.
The wind is [animate] and/or [human] while howled angrily is
[+animate] and/or [+human]. Therefore, howled angrily is an
expression of personification which means blew strongly.
6. When the White House called, the ambassador went at once.
The White House, which is [+sign], is a metonymy meaning the US
President, which is [+person].
7. My dormitory room is like a cave.
My dormitory room is like a cave is a simile which means my
dormitory room is small and uncomfortable. In this case, my
dormitory room is explicitly compared to a cave.
8. Come to the dormitory and see what a cave I live in.
A cave is a metaphor which means a small and uncomfortable room.
In this case, my dormitory room is implicitly compared to a cave.
9. Dick was fairly pleased when he won the brand-new car in the
contest.
Fairly pleased is an ironical understatement which means very
pleased.
10. If you are not happy with the service, go and talk to the City Hall.
The City Hall, which is [+sign], is a metonymy meaning the citys
Mayor, which is [+person].
11. Man does not live by bread alone.

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Bread, which is [+part], is a synecdoche which means necessaries or

things needed for living, which is [+whole].

12. We now live under the same roof.

Roof is [+part] while house is [+whole]. Therefore, live under the
same roof is a synecdoche which means live in the same house.
13. Albert was as sharp as a tack this morning. He answered every
question as soon as it was asked.
Albert was as sharp as a tack is a simile which means Albert was
quick-minded.
14. The river ate the bank away.
The river is [animate] and/or [human] while ate away is
[+animate] and/or [+human]. Therefore, ate the bank away is an
expression of personification which means eroded the bank or
gradually destroyed the bank.
15. Keep overeating like that and pretty soon youll weigh a thousand
pounds.
Weigh a thousand pounds is an overstatement/a hyperbole which
means be too heavy or get too fat.
16. After she heard the good news, she grinned like a mule eating
briars.
Grinned like a mule eating briars is a simile which means smiled
broadly.
17. The captain was in charge of one hundred horses.
Horses, which is [+instrument], is a metonymy which means
cavalries or soldiers fighting on horseback, which is [+agent].
18. Joe cried a little when he lost the thousand dollars.
Cried a little is an ironical understatement which means cried a lot.
19. You can depend on Gina; she is a rock when trouble comes.

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She is a rock is a metaphor which means she is strong-minded or she

has strong nerves.

20. Life is a dream.

There may be two possible ways to interpret this sentence:
Life is a dream is a metaphor which means life is short or life passes
quickly.
Life is a dream is a metaphor which means life is as beautiful as a
dream.
21. Hes so hardheaded that he wont listen to anyone.
Hardheaded is an idiom/a dead metaphor which means obstinate or
stubborn.
22. Research says that these methods are best.
There may be two possible ways to interpret this sentence:
The first way: Research is [animate] and/or [human] while
says is [+animate] and/or [+human]. Therefore, the whole
sentence is an expression of personification which means
researchers say that these methods are best.

The second way: Research, which is [+controlled], stands

for/substitutes for researchers, which is [+controller]. This is a

metonymy. The whole sentence means researchers say that

these methods are best.

23. Right at this minute, I could drink a barrel of water without

stopping.
A barrel of water is an overstatement/a hyperbole which means a lot of
water.
24. It is amazing what a great mind he is.
A great mind, which is [+part], stands for/substitutes for an erudite
scholar, which is [+whole]. This is a synecdoche. The whole sentence
means I am amazed by his intellectual power.

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25. Alice came in gently, like a May breeze.

Alice is like a May breeze is a simile which means Alice is as young,
fresh, sweet and warm as a breeze signaling the beginning of a
summer.
26. Susie is a picture of loveliness in her new dress.
Susie is a picture of loveliness is a metaphor which means Susie is very
lovely.
27. A thousand thanks are for your kindness.
A thousand thanks are for your kindness is an overstatement/a
hyperbole which means thank you very much for your kindness.
28. I walked past the big sad mouth which didnt know what to say
then.
Mouth, which is [+part], stands for person, which is [+whole]. This is
a synecdoche.
The whole sentence means I passed by the talkative person who was
then too upset to give an immediate response.
29. We are tired to death of such movies.
Tired to death is an overstatement/a hyperbole which means
extremely bored with.
30. Give every man thine ears, bid a few thy voice.
This sentence consists of two metonymies: give every man thine4
ears which means listen to everyone, and bid a few thy voice which
means talk to only a few people. The whole sentence means you
should listen to everyone but talk to only a few people.
31. There was a storm in Parliament last night.

Both thine and thy mean your. Respectively, thine and thy occur before a
noun beginning with a vowel and a consonant.

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A storm is a metaphor which means a heated argument, a bitter

disagreement or a terrible conflict.

32. Im afraid he has misrepresented the facts.

He has misrepresented5 the facts is a euphemism which means he
has lied or he has told lies.
33. He worked and worked until he breathed his last.
Breathed his last is a euphemism which means died.
34. Well just have to go our separate ways.
Go our separate ways is a metaphor which implies that life is a
journey.
35. They were vital, unforgettable matches that gave us a new window on the
game.
A new window on the game is a metaphor meaning a new
understanding of the game.
36. Ive told you a thousand times not to touch that again.
A thousand times is an overstatement/a hyperbole which means
more than one time.
37. He is as mute as a fish.
He is as mute as a fish is a simile which means he rarely speaks or he is
quiet.
38. We stopped to drink in the beautiful scenery.
Drink in is a metaphor which means enjoy or admire. In other words,
the beautiful scenery is implicitly compared to a delicious drink.
39. His words can be trusted.

Mis- is a verb-forming prefix meaning wrongly. Re- is another verbforming prefix meaning again.

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His words stands for/substitutes for that person himself. This is a

metonymy.
The whole sentence means you can trust him.

40. The police team has cemented close ties with the hospital staff.
- Cemented literally means joined (the police team and the hospital
staff) together as with cement.
- Cemented in this context is a metaphor which means firmly
established or strengthened.
The whole sentence means close connections have been established
between the police team and the hospital staff.
41. The boss gave her a hot look.
A hot look is a metaphor which means an angry look.
The whole sentence means the boss looked at her angrily.
42. He could not bridle his anger.
- Bridle literally means put on a horse part of a harness, including
the metal bit for the mouth, the straps and the reins.
- Bridle in this context is a metaphor which means control or
restrain.
The whole sentence means he failed to control his anger.
43. He attacked every weak point in my argument.
- Attacked literally means made a violent attempt to defeat
(somebody).
- Attacked is a metaphor which means criticized (somebody)
severely.
- Attacked every weak point in my argument is another metaphor
which implies that argument is war.
The whole sentence means he severely criticized every weak point
in my argument.

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44. In 1940, after the fall of France, England had no defense left but
her ancient valor.
The fall of France is a metaphor which means the failure of France.
England is compared to a woman who had no defense left but her
former bravery in war. This is an expression of personification.
The whole sentence means after the failure of France in 1940,
England could not defend herself against her war enemy/enemies.
45. The fire snaps6 and crackles7 like a whip8; its sharp9 acrid10 smoke
stings11 the eyes. It is the fire that drives12 a thorn13 of memory in
my heart.
- In the fire crackles like a whip, the sound of fire is explicitly
compared to that of a whip. This is a simile.
- Smoke and fire are each given a human act: sting the eyes and
drives a thorn in the heart. These are two expressions of
personification.

Snaps = makes sudden sharp sounds

Crackles = makes small cracking sounds as when dry sticks burn

A whip = a length of cord or a strip of leather fastened to a handle, used

especially for urging on an animal (especially a horse)

Sharp (adj., usually attributive, of sounds) = shrill, piercing: a sharp cry of
distress, the sharp raucous cawing of a crow
10
Acrid (adj) = having a strong bitter smell or taste: acrid fumes from burning
rubber
11
A sting = a sharp pointed organ of some insects, e.g. bees, wasps, etc.,
used for wounding or injecting poison
Stings = pricks or wounds (somebody) with or as if with a sting; causes
(somebody) to feel sharp pain: A bee stung me on the cheek.
12
Drives = forces (something) to go in a specified direction or into a
specified position: drive a nail into wood
13
A thorn = a sharp pointed growth on the stem of a plant: The thorns on the
roses scratch her hands
9

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- A thorn of memory is a metaphor which means some unpleasant

thing, event, situation, etc. that one can hardly forget.
The whole sentence means the fire, with its sharp acrid smoke and
small crackling sounds, reminds me of some unpleasant thing that I can
hardly forget.
46. The organization is keeping the brake on pay rises.
Keep the brake on pay rises is a metaphor which means control pay
rises.
The whole sentence means the organization is controlling the
increase in the amounts/sums of money paid for its current activities.
47. Her father is a captain of industry.
This sentence consists of an idiom/a dead metaphor a captain of
industry, which means one who manages a large industrial
company.
48. I am the captain of my soul.
This sentence consists of two metonymies:
(1) The captain, which is [+specific]14, stands for the leader, which is
[+generic].
(2) My soul, which is [+more abstract], stands for my life, which is
[+less abstract].
The whole sentence means I can decide my own life or I can control
myself.
49. To fall out of a tree in ones early childhood is not a particularly
reassuring experience.
To fall out of a tree is a metaphor which means to be exposed to real
life.

Captain (n) 1 person in charge of a ship or civil aircraft. 2 (a) officer in the
British Army between the ranks of lieutenant and major; (b) officer in the British
Navy between the ranks of commander and admiral. 3 person given authority
over a group or team: He was (the) captain of the football team for five years.
14

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The whole sentence means it is terrible to be exposed to real life in

ones early childhood without any parental protection.
50. No man is an island: entire of itself; every man is a piece of the
continent.
This sentence consists of two metonymies:
(1) An island, which is [+concrete], stands for isolation, which is
[+abstract];
(2) The continent, which is [+concrete], stands for community, which
is [+abstract].
The whole sentence means no one can isolate himself from the
community he has been living in.
Exercise 9: Each of the following sentences presents a pair of words. Which
of them is a superordinate and which, a hyponym?

1. She reads books all day mostly novels.

2. A crocodile is a reptile.
3. Theres no flower more beautiful than a tulip.
4. He likes all vegetables except carrots.
ANSWER:
SUPERORDINATE

HYPONYM

1.

books

novels

2.

reptile

crocodile

3.

flower

tulip

4.

vegetables

carrots

Exercise 10: Draw a chart to show the relationship between a superordinate

and a hyponym.

191

1. luggage and suitcase

luggage

suitcase briefcase handbag (or purse) trunk rucksack (or backpack)

2. green vegetable and bean

green vegetable

cabbage

lettuce

Brussels sprout

broccoli

bean

3. animal and foal

animal
fish bird

insect

bug

reptile

mammal

human

animal (beast)
dog

horse

stallion

mare

sheep

foal

4. animal and child

animal
fish

bird

insect

bug

mammal

animal (beast)

human
man

reptile

woman

child

5. fowl and rooster

fowl
turkey

chicken

rooster (American)/cock (British)

192

goose

duck
hen

chick

6. plant and coconut

plant
flowering plant

bush/shrub

moss

tree

pine

palm gum
palm

betle nut

coconut

grass

sago

7. plant and rose

plant
tree

bush/shrub
lily

moss

flowering plant
daisy violet

tulip

grass

rose

8. vocal organ and tongue tip

vocal organ
lip
tongue tip

tongue

nose

tongue blade

larynx

lower jaw

tongue front

tongue back

tongue root

9. head and eyelash

head
face
mouth
eyeball

hair

nose
eyehole

skull

eye

brain

cheek

eyelash

forehead

eyelid

pupil

chin

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10. furniture and dressing table

furniture
seat

table

bed

wardrobe dressing table chest of drawers

storage

writing desk

Welsh dresser

11. vehicle and convertible

vehicle
bus

truck car

hardtop

lorry

convertible

bicycle

train

sports car

12. vocalize15 and croon16

vocalize
speak

read aloud

sing

yodel

hum

croon

articulate

Exercise 11: The following pairs of words are partial synonyms, i.e. they
do not share all their senses. For each pair, (a) gives a sentence in which
the two can be used interchangeably; (b) gives another sentence in
which only one of them can be used.

15
16

Vocalize = say or sing (sounds or words); utter

Croon (sth) (to sb) = sing or say (sth) softly and gently: croon a sentimental tune;
croon soothing to a child.
Yodel (also yodle) = sing (a song) or utter a musical call, with frequent changes
from the normal voice to high falsetto notes, in the traditional Swiss manner.
Hum (sth) (to sb) = sing (a tune) with close lips: I dont know the words of the song
but I can hum it to you.

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1. strong/powerful
(a) There are strong/powerful arguments for and against capital
punishment.
(b) He loves strong coffee.
2. ripe/mature
(a) This cheese is ripe/mature enough for us to eat.
(b) We cannot eat this fruit because it isnt ripe yet.
3. broad/wide
(a) The Thames is a broad/wide river.
(b) My boss is not broad-minded.
4. soil/earth
(a) We can plant the trees on this good soil/earth.
(b) The rocket fell back to earth.
5. edge/side
(a) This house is at the edge/side of the forest.
(b) I will be on your side.
6. permit/allow
(a) Photography is not permitted/allowed in this area.
(b) If the weather permits, well go boating.
Exercise 12: Identify various meanings of each of the two given polysemous
words and then point out which meaning exemplify partial synonymy.
ANSWER:
1. deep
(i) This is a deep well. (Deep means extending a long way from top to bottom)
(ii) He only gave a deep sigh. (Deep means taking in or going out a lot of air)
(iii) You have my deep sympathy. (Deep means profound)
(iv) With his hands deep in his pockets, he went away.
(Deep means far down in something)
The third meaning of deep is synonymous with profound.

195

2. broad
(i) The river is very broad at this point.
(Broad means wide or large in size from one side to the other.)
(ii) He just gave a broad smile. (Broad means clear, obvious or unmistakable)
(iii) Luckily, my boss is a man of broad views. (Broad means liberal, tolerant)
(iv) He speaks English with a broad Yorkshire accent.
(Broad means having many sounds typical of a particular region)
The first meaning of broad is synonymous with wide.
Exercise 13: Are the following pairs of words binary antonyms?
1. No; 2. Yes; 3. No; 4. Yes; 5. Yes; 6. No (Gradable)
Exercise 14: Are the following pairs of words relational antonyms?
1. Yes; 2. No (Gradable); 3. No (Binary); 4. Yes; 5. Yes; 6. Yes
Exercise 15: Identify the continuous scale of values between the two given words.
1. love -- hate: love, like, be indifferent to, dislike, hate
2. hot -- cold: hot, warm, tepid (also called lukewarm), cool, cold
3. big -- small: big, rather big/fairly big, medium-sized, rather small/fairly
small, small
4. rich -- poor: rich, wealthy, meager, poor
5. none -- all: none, few/little, some (= a few/a little), half, most, almost all, all
6. possibly -- certainly: possibly, probably, quite probably, almost
certainly, certainly
7. never--always: never, rarely/seldom, occasionally, sometimes, often,
usually/frequently, always
Exercise 16: State whether the following pairs of antonyms are binary, gradable or
relational by writing B (binary), G (gradable) or R (relational):
1. G; 2. B; 3. B; 4. G; 5. R; 6. G; 7. B; 8. R;
9. R; 10. R; 11. G; 12. G; 13. B; 14. B; 15. G; 16 R

196

Exercise 17: Give the phonemic transcription shared by two members of each
of the given pairs of words to identify them as a pair of homophones:
The first one is done as an example.
/h3:d/
1. altar
alter 11. herd
heard
/0:lt6(r)/
/bi:t/
/na1t/
2. beech
beach 12. knight
night
/b0: (r)/
/n6z/
3. boar
bore 13. nose
knows
/k0:s/
4. coarse
course 14. leek
/li:k/
leak
/kru:z/
/me1d/
5. crews
cruise 15. maid
made
/d16(r)/
6. deer
dear 16. pail
/pe1l/
pale
/dra:ft/
/re1n/
7. draft
draught 17. reign
rain
/fe6(r)/
/si:n/
8. fare
fair 18. scene
seen
9. flour
flower 19. thrown /8r6n/
throne
/fla6(r)/
/gre1t/
10. grate
great 20. whole
/h6l/
hole
Exercise 18: Give the phonemic transcription shared be two members of
each of the given pairs of words to identify them as a pair of
homonyms: The first one is done as an example.
1. Classified as two homonyms are the verb lie1, which means tell lies, and
the verb lie2, which means put ones body on a horizontal surface;
both being pronounced /la1/ in RP.
2. Classified as two homonyms are the noun bat1, which means the small

mouse-like animal that flies at night and feeds on fruit and

insects, and the noun bat2, which means a tool for hitting in
baseball; both being pronounced /b`t/ in RP.
3. Classified as two homonyms are the adverb too1, which means more than
should be, and the adverb too2, which means also; both being
pronounced /tu:/ in RP.
4. Classified as two homonyms are the noun might, which means great
strength or power, and the modal verb might, which expresses
possibility; both being pronounced /ma1t/ in RP.

197

5. Classified as two homonyms are the adjective bare, which means without
the usual covering or protection, and the verb bare, which means
uncover or reveal (something); both being pronounced /be6(r)/ in RP.
6. Classified as two homonyms are the noun sound, which means thing that
can be heard, and the adjective sound, which means healthy or in good
condition; both being pronounced /sand/ in RP.
7. Classified as two homonyms are the verb lead in Does this road lead to
town and the noun lead in Hes the chief trouble-maker; the others just
follow his lead; both being pronounced /li:d/ in RP.
Exercise 19: What is the relationship between the words in the following
pairs? If the words are antonyms, specify what kind of antonyms they
are. The italic words in bracket are to clarify the meaning in question of
the given words.
The first one is done as an example.
1. true -- false: binary antonymy
2. gloom -- darkness: synonymy
3. dark (as in a dark room) -- dark (as in Dont look on the dark side of
things): poslysemy
4. wind (as in The wind is blowing hard)-- wind (as in wind ones watch): homography
5. deny -- admit: binary antonymy
6. host -- guest: relational antonymy
7. sow (as in sow a field with wheat) -- sow (meaning a female pig): homography
8. pupil (at a school)--pupil (of an eye): homonymy
9. cheap -- expensive: gradable antonymy
10. coarse -- course: homophony
Exercise 20: Explain the lexical ambiguity in each of the following sentences
by providing two sentences that paraphrase its two different meanings.
The first one is done as an example.

198

1. They WERE WAITING at the bank.

Meaning one: They WERE WAITING at the financial institution.
Meaning two: They WERE WAITING at the shore of the river.
2. The long drill IS boring.
Meaning one: The long tool for drilling MAKES me bored/tired.
In other words, the tool for drilling IS blunt/not sharp enough.
Meaning two: The long training exercise IS uninteresting/dull/tedious.
3. When he got the clear title to the land, it WAS a good deed.
Meaning one: When he got the clear title to the land, it WAS a good act.
Meaning two: When he got the clear title to the land, it WAS a great
achievement.
4. The proprietor of the fish store WAS the sole owner.
Meaning one: The proprietor of the fish store WAS the only owner.
Meaning two: The proprietor of the fish store WAS single/unmarried.
5. We LIKE the ball.
Meaning one: We LIKE the sphere.
Meaning two: We LIKE the formal social gathering for dancing.
6. They PASSED the port at night.
Meaning one: They WENT by the harbour at night.
Meaning two: They DELIVERED the Portuguese wine 17 at night.
7. The captain CORRECTED the list.
Meaning one: The captain CORRECTED the tilt 18.
Meaning two: The captain CORRECTED the inventory 19.
8. He WAS KNOCKED OVER by the punch.

Strong, sweet (usually dark red) wine made in Portugal

the listing position = the position of a ship that leans over one side
19
the detailed list of task done during a journey
17
18

199

Meaning one: He WAS KNOCKED OVER because of a blow given with the fist.
Meaning two: He WAS KNOCKED OVER near/beside

the tool/the machine for cutting holes in leather, metal, paper, etc.
9. The camel SWALLOWED the chocolate and then ate it.
Meaning one: The camel GULPED the chocolate down and then ate it.
Meaning two: The camel easily BELIEVED something to be chocolate and
then ate it.
Exercise 21: Explain the lexical ambiguity in each of the two given
sentences. Does polysemy or homonymy contribute to such ambiguity.
(1) She cannot bear children.
(2) The cat sat on the mat.
We can interpret (1) in two different ways because the two verbs bear bear1,
which means give birth to and bear2, whish means tolerate are two homonyms.
We can interpret (2) in two different ways because the noun mat is a polysemous
word which has two slightly different but closely related meanings:
(i) piece of material, made of straw, fibre, rushes, etc. used to cover part of a floor;
(ii) small piece of material placed under a hot dish, a glass, a vase, etc.
Exercise 22: In what way are homonyms related to lexical ambiguity?
Homonyms can create lexical ambiguity.
She cannot bear children, for example, is lexically ambiguous because the
sentence contains one ambiguous word bear. The sentence may mean
either she is unable to give birth to children or she cannot tolerate children.
The lexical ambiguity of the sentence in question is due to the two
homonyms, bear1 and bear2, with two quite different meanings.
Exercise 23: In what way is a polysemous word related to lexical ambiguity?
A polysemous word can create lexical ambiguity.
That robot is bright, for example, is lexically ambiguous because it contains
one ambiguous word bright. The sentence may mean either that robot is
shining or that robot is intelligent.

200

The lexical ambiguity of the sentence in question is due to the two slightly
different but closely related meanings of the polysemous word bright
shining and intelligent.
Exercise 24: Explain the structural ambiguity in each of the following
sentences.
1. The drunkard visitor rolled up the carpet.
6. They are cooking bananas.
2. Is he really that kind?

7. They are moving sidewalks.

3. My fiancee is reserved.

8. John loves Richard more than Martha.

4. I saw her slip.

9. Old men and women will be served first.

5. I saw her duck

10. The thing that bothered Bill was crouching

under the table.
1(a) The drunkard visitor FOLDED the carpet over on itself.
(Rolled up is a transitive separable phrasal verb and the carpet is a
noun phrase functioning as the direct object of the verb head.)
1(b) The drunkard visitor TURNED over and over up the carpet.
(Rolled is an intransitive verb and up the carpet is a prepositional
phrase functioning as the adverbial adjunct of place of the verb head.)
S
NP1

VP1

Vgrp
NP2
[mono-trans] [dO]

NP1

VP1
VP2

AdvP
[op A of place]

1(a)The drunkard visitor ROLLED UP the carpet.

Vgrp
[intrans]
PP

1(b) The drunkard visitor ROLLED up the carpet.

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2(a) Is he really that kind?

2(b) Is he really that kind?

That is a demonstrative adjective, a

pre-nominal modifier of the noun kind.

That is an adverb of degree

2(a) means Does he really belong

to that kind of people?

pre-modifying the adjective kind.

2(b) means Is he really so kind?

3(a) My fiancee IS RESERVED.

3(b) My fiancee IS reserved.

Reserved is a past participle, part of

the finite verb is reserved.

Reserved is an adjective meaning quiet.

3(a) means My fiancee is kept only

for me. In other words, you should
always stay away from her.
4(a) I SAW her slip.

3(b) means My fiancee rarely talks.

4(b) I SAW her SLIP.

Slip is a noun meaning petticoat;

Slip is a verb meaning lose ones

loose sleeveless
under a dress.

balance and (nearly) fall in this way.

garment

worn

4(a) means We saw the petticoat

that belongs to her.
5(a) We SAW her duck.
Duck is a noun meaning domestic
water bird.
5(a) means We saw the domestic
water bird that belongs to her.

meaning to such a degree,

4(b) means We saw her lose

her balance and nearly fall.
5(b) We SAW her DUCK.
Duck is a verb meaning move (ones
head) down quickly, to avoid being
seen or hit.
5(b) means We saw her lower her head.

6(a) They ARE COOKING bananas.

6(b) They ARE cooking bananas.

Cooking is a present participle, part

of the finite verb are cooking.

Cooking is a gerund, a pre-nominal

modifier of bananas.

6(a) means Bananas are cooked.

6(b) means
They are bananas for cooking.

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7(a) They ARE MOVING sidewalks.

7(b) They ARE moving sidewalks.

Moving is a present participle, part of

the finite verb are moving.

Moving is a present participle, a

pre-nominal modifier of sidewalks.

7(a) means the sidewalks are moved.

8(a) John LOVES Richard more
S1 V1
dO1
than Martha (LOVES Richard).
S2
V2
dO2

7(b) means they are the

sidewalks that are movable.
8(b) John LOVES Richard more
S1 V1
dO1
than (he LOVES) Martha.
S2 V2
dO2

In 8(a), loves Richard is omitted.

9(a)Old men and women WILL BE
SERVED first.
Old only modifies men.

In 8(b), he loves is omitted.

9(b)Old men and women WILL
SERVED first.
Old modifies men and women.

9(a) means we first serve the men

who are old and all of the women,
irrespective of their age.
10(a) The thing that bothered Bill WAS
CROUCHING under the table.

9(b) means we first serve the

men and women who are all old.

Crouching is a present participle,

part of the finite verb was crouching.

Crouching is a gerund, head of the

phrase crouching under the table.

10(b) means Bill was annoyed by

the thing that was crouching
under the table.

10(b) means it is crouching under

the table that annoyed Bill.

BE

10(b) The thing that bothered Bill

WAS crouching under the table.

Exercise 25: Explain the anomaly of each of the following sentences.

1. Christopher is killing phonemes.
This sentence is semantically anomalous because killing and phonemes
are not semantically compatible to be combined in this way. Kill means
cause the death of a living organism whereas phonemes are non-living
things things that cannot be killed.

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2. My brother is a spinster.
This sentence is semantically anomalous because my brother is [+male]
whereas a spinster is [+female].
3. The boy swallowed the chocolate and then chewed it.
This sentence is semantically anomalous because of the wrong order of
the two verb phrases swallowed the chocolate and chewed it.
4. Babies can lift one ton.
This sentence is semantically anomalous because babies are [+young]
and [strong]. How can they lift a weight of 2,240 pounds in Britain or of
2,000 pounds in the U.S.A.?
5. Puppies are human.
This sentence is semantically anomalous because puppies are
[+animate] and thus [ human].
6. My unmarried sister is married to a bachelor.
This sentence is semantically anomalous because both my unmarried
sister and a bachelor are [+single], and thus they cant be husband and wife.
7. The bigger key and John opened the door.
This sentence is semantically anomalous because its instrument (the
bigger key) cannot be conjoined with its agent (John).
8. James sliced the ideas.
This sentence is semantically anomalous because the ideas are
[+abstract notion] while only concrete things that are long, round, and
soft enough like a sausage or a tomato can be sliced.
9. Jacks courage chewed the bones.
This sentence is semantically anomalous because Jacks courage is
[+abstract notion], and thus it could not chew anything.

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10. I hear the cloud.

This sentence is semantically anomalous because hear, presumably,
presupposes that its object is audible [Palmer, 1981: 170] while the cloud
is [ audible].
11. The tiger remained alive for an hour after the hunter killed it.
This sentence is semantically anomalous because no living organism can
remain alive after being killed. In fact, the tiger died right at the moment
the hunter killed it.
Exercise 26: How can each of the given sentences be changed to avoid
anomaly?
1. Christopher is killing himself.
2. My brother is a bachelor.
3. The boy chewed the chocolate and then swallowed it.
4. This crane can lift one ton.
5. Puppies are not human.
6. My unmarried sister will be married to a bachelor.
7. John (the agent) opened the door with the bigger key (the instrument).
8. James sliced the tomatoes or James raised/ could finally come up with
the ideas.
9. Jack chewed the bones.
10. I hear the piece of news already / I see the cloud.
11. The tiger remained alive for an hour after the hunter injured it.

205

Exercise 27: Do the two following sentences have the same proposition?
(1) Mr Dindlay killed Janet.
(2) Mr Dindlay caused Janet to die.
No, they dont. Killed somebody in (1) implies [+intentionally]
whereas caused somebody to die in (2) implies [+accidentally]. The
semantic feature [intention] is crucial in distinguishing the different
propositions in (1-2).
Exercise 28: Explain why the two members of each of the following pairs of
sentences do not share the same proposition.
1(a) John is the parent of James.
3(a) The fly was on the wall.
1(b) James is the parent of John.
3(b) The wall was under the fly.
2(a) The hunter bit the lion.
4(a) Jack was injured by a stone.
2(b) The lion bit the hunter.
4(b) Jack was injured with a stone.
ANSWER:

The two pairs of sentences marked 1(a-b) and 2(a-b) are not related to
each other. In other words, they indicate different states of affairs:
1(a) tells us about John, 1(b) tells us about James, 2(a) tells us about the
hunter, and 2(b) tells us about the lion.
 The pair of sentences marked 3(a-b) expresses different propositions.
On the one hand, the preposition on in 3(a) indicates that the fly was in a
position that allows it to touch the wall. On the other hand, the preposition

under in 3(b) indicates that though the wall was in a position directly below
the fly, there was no touching between them. The semantic feature
[touching] is crucial in distinguishing different propositions in 3(a-b).
 The preposition by in 4(a) tells us that a stone fell and accidentally
injured Jack whereas the preposition with in 4(b) implies that somebody
intentionally used a stone as a means to injure Jack. The semantic feature
[intention] is crucial in distinguishing different propositions in 4(a-b).

206

Exercise 29: Fill in the following chart given by Hurford and Heasley [1984:
23] with + or as appropriate. Thus, for example, if it makes sense
to think of a proposition being in a particular regional accent, put a + in
the appropriate box; if not put a .
Can be loud or quiet
Can be grammatical or not
Can be true or false
In a particular regional accent
In a particular language

Utterances
+
+
+
+
+

Sentences

+
+

Propositions

Exercise 30: Circle the following sentences A for analytic, S for synthetic
or C for contradiction, as appropriate.
1. A; 2. S; 3. A; 4. S; 5. S; 6. S; 7. A; 8. C; 9. A; 10. S;
11. S; 12. A; 13. C; 14. S; 15. S
Exercise 31: The following pairs are paraphrases of each other. Identify the
way employed to paraphrase them.
- Change individual words by using synonyms: 1-7(a-b)
- Change individual words by using relational antonyms: 8-10(a-b)
- Change sentence structure: 11-16(a-b) and 17(a-d)
- Change both individual words and sentence structure: 18-25(a-b)
Exercise 32: Use to show one-way entailment and to show two-way
entailment in each of the following pairs of sentences:
- One-way entailment (): 1-5(a-b) and 11-15(a-b)
- Two-way entailment (): 6-10(a-b) and 16-20(a-b)
Exercise 33: What sense relation holds between the two sentences of each pair:
- 1(a-b) and 7-8(a-b) are the paraphrases of each other.
- 2(a-b) and 9-10(a-b) contradict each other.
- Respectively, 3-6(a) asymmetrically entail 3-6(b)

207

Exercise 34: Identify the presupposition(s) in each of the following sentences.

1. I am sorry I cannot find your book right now.
The utterance presupposes that you have/own a book, and you have lent it to me.
2. On the occasion of my friend's birthday, I intend to buy her a new vase.
The utterance presupposes that (1) I have a friend, (2) soon comes her
birthday, and (3) she has a vase already.
3. The exam is not so difficult.
The utterance presupposes that there is an exam
and that the hearer already knows what the exam is.

The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows what the exam is.
4. She is not happy about the chemistry course shes taking.
The utterance presupposes that shes taking a chemistry course.
The utterance presupposes that there is a chemistry course and shes taking it.
5. We havent heard anything from Barbara.
The utterance presupposes that the hearer already knows who Barbara is.

The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows who Barbara is.
6. They were rich.
The utterance presupposes that the hearer already knows who they are.

The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows who they are.
7. Can you stop playing with your cat?
The utterance presupposes that
you have a cat, and youre playing with him/her.
8. She was not aware that her son had an accident.
The utterance presupposes her son had an accident.
The utterance presupposes that she has a son, and he had an accident.
9. The explosion was so loud that it could be heard from miles away.
The utterance presupposes that there was an explosion somewhere.
10. I wish I had not booked the tickets.

208

The utterance presupposes that I booked the tickets.

(The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows what the tickets are.)
11. Tom might find the chocolate cake in the kitchen.
The utterance presupposes that there is a chocolate cake in the kitchen.
12. You will be amazed when you see the view.
The utterance presupposes that you will see a beautiful view.
The utterance presupposes that
there is a beautiful view somewhere and that you will see the view soon.
13. I am so sorry, I am in a hurry and I cant answer your question right now.
The utterance presupposes that youve asked me a question.
14. She was not aware that it would hurt her so much.
The utterance presupposes that it (did) hurt her very much.
16. Could you drive me to the airport?
The utterance presupposes that

the hearer already knows what the airport is and where it is located.
17. It took us two days to come back from Hanoi by train.
The utterance presupposes that we once went to Hanoi.
18. It is going to rain for a long time. (a prediction)
The utterance presupposes that it is raining now or it has been raining.
19. I am going to have a final examination in Semantics.
(Near future with arrangement)
The utterance presupposes that I havent taken the final exam in Semantics yet.
20. We are going to be teachers of English.
The utterance presupposes that we havent been teachers of English yet.
The utterance presupposes
(1) that the hearer already knows who the other members of this group are
and (2) that the persons in question havent been teachers of English yet.
21. I think I will pass the exam.

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The utterance presupposes that there was an exam, and I have taken it.
The utterance presupposes that
there will be an exam soon, and Im going to take it.
22. I hope to have a good result for this exam.
The utterance presupposes that there was an exam, and I have taken it.
The utterance presupposes that
there will be an exam soon, and Im going to take it.
23. But before your encouragement, we would have given up.
The utterance presupposes that you encouraged us.
24. I got an excellent mark for my essay last time.
The utterance presupposes that I wrote/ I had written an essay.
25. I missed my class on Monday because I overslept.
The utterance presupposes that I had a class on Monday.
26. My sister is going to graduate from university.
The utterance presupposes that
I have a sister, and she hasnt graduated from university yet.
27. I've got a good mark for the exam in American Literature.
The utterance presupposes that
there was an exam in American Literature, and I have taken it.
28. I am going to have a new grammar book.
The utterance presupposes that
I have a grammar book, and I havent bought any new one yet.
29. When did you give up teaching?
The utterance presupposes that you gave up teaching.
30. When did you stop beating your wife?
The utterance presupposes that
you once beat your wife, and you stopped beating her.
31. Fred continued/didnt continue speaking.

210

The utterance presupposes that Fred was speaking previously.

(The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows who Fred is.)
32. I cleaned/didnt clean the room.
The utterance presupposes that the room was dirty.
(The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows what the room is.)
33. He killed/didnt kill the bird.
The utterance presupposes that the bird was alive.
(The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows what the bird is.)
34. What was John worried about?
The utterance presupposes that John was worried.
(The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows who John is.)
35. Bill drank another glass of beer?
The utterance presupposes that Bill had drunk at least one.
(The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows who Bill is.)
36. Could you lend me the novel [when you finish it]?
(non-fact fact: + ) you finish the novel
The utterance presupposes that you havent finished (reading) the novel yet.
(The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows what the novel is.)
37. I cant guess when the rain stops?
the rain stops (non-fact fact: +)
The utterance presupposes that rain is falling / it is raining.
38. Please take me to the circus again.
The utterance presupposes that the speaker was at the circus before.
The utterance presupposes that the speaker has been to the circus before/
at least once.
The utterance presupposes that the hearer has taken the speaker to the
circus before/at least once.
(The speaker assumes that the hearer already knows what the circus is.)

211

39. He pretended to be pleased with the gift.

The utterance presupposes that he was not pleased with the gift.
40. If only you had taken his offer.
The utterance presupposes that you didnt take his offer.
Exercise 35: Which of the following utterances share the same
presupposition?
The utterances marked (2), (3), (4), (5), and (7) all presuppose that Mike
smashed the television set whereas the utterances marked (1) and (6) both
presuppose that the speaker does not know whether (or not) Mike smashed the
television set.
Exercise 36: Write down one implicature that can be drawn from the second
speakers response in each of the following conversations:
(1) Mary: Did you manage to fix that leak?
Jim: I tried to.
His utterance may implicate that Jim did not fix the leak.
(2) Steve: What happened to your flowers?
Jane: A dog got into the garden.
Janes utterance may implicate that the dog was not Janes
and that her flowers got destroyed.
(3) Laura: Who used all the printer paper?
Dick: I used some of it.
His utterance may implicate that Dick did not use all the paper.
(4) Gina: I hear youre always late with the rent.
Robin: Well, sometimes I am.
His utterance may implicate that Robin is not always late with the rent.
(5) Jenny: Mike and Annie should be here by now. Was their plane late?
Alfred: Possibly.
His utterance may implicate that

Alfreds not certain that the plane was late.

212

(6) Gwen: This cheese looks funny. The label said not to store the
cheese in the freezer.
Alvin: Yeah, I did see the label.
His utterance may implicate that Alvin did not freeze the cheese.
(7) Mat: Whats with your mother?
Bob: Lets go to the garden.
His utterance may implicate that

Bob cannot talk about his mothers problem in the very place.
(8) Carmen: Did you buy the car?
Maria: It cost twice as much as I thought it would.
Her utterance may implicate that Maria did not buy the car.
(9) Robert: Wheres the salad dressing?
Gabriela: Weve run out of olive oil.
Gabrielas utterance may implicate that there is not any salad dressing left.
(10) Maggie: The bathrooms flooded!
Jim: Someone must have left the tap on.
His utterance may implicate that Jim did not leave the tap on.
(11) Austin: Want some fudge brownies?
Jenny: There must be 20,000 calories there.
Her utterance may implicate that

Jenny does not want any fudge brownies.

(12) Alice: Have you seen my sweater?
Max: Theres a sweater on the sofa.
His utterance may implicate that

Max is not sure whether the sweater on the sofa is Alices.

(13) Phils mother: How did you do on these exams?
Phil: I failed physics.
His utterance may implicate that

Phil passed/did not fail the other exams.

(14) Paul: I didnt take it.
Virginia: Why do you always lie?
Virginias utterance may implicate that it is Paul who took it.

213

(15) Tom: It works now.

Janet: When did Eric fix it?
Janets utterance may implicate that it is Eric, not Tom, who fixed it.
(16) Liza: I hear youve invited Mat and Chris.
Ed: I didnt invite Mat.
His utterance may implicate that Ed invited Chris.
(17) A: What are the Nelsons like?
B: They were rich.
Bs utterance may implicate that the Nelsons are not rich any more.
(18) A: What is this examination in Semantics like?
B: It is so easy this time.
Bs utterance may implicate that

the last examination in Semantics was really difficult.

(19) A: Did you get the milk and the eggs?
B: I got the milk.
Bs utterance may implicate that he/she did not get the eggs.
(20) A: Did Carmen like the party?
B: She left after an hour.
Bs utterance may implicate that Carmen did not like the party.
Exercise 37: In each case below decide which maxim has not been
observed and what conversational implicature might be drawn.
Background information is given in square brackets.
(1) is a flouting of the maxim of Relevance. If meat had been the main course,
A would probably draw the implicature that B didnt like the dinner.
(2) is a flouting of the maxim of Manner. Since B could not help being
unclear, A would probably draw the implicature that B is a bit dubious

about drinking that cocktail.

(3) is a flouting of the maxim of Quality. B can only be co-operative if A
would draw the implicature that B was very tired.

214

(4) is a flouting of the maxim of Relevance. Bs exam is not apparently

relevant to a discussion about going to the movies. A would draw the
implicature that B is not going to the movies.
(5) is a flouting of the maxim of Quantity. Stating that a barbecue is an
outdoor party is apparently both too informative (since people all know that
a barbecue is an outdoor party) and not informative enough since B has not
directly answered the question. A would draw the implicature that B is

possibly not coming to the barbecue.

(6) is a flouting of the maxim of Quantity. The student is providing much
more information than is normally required in this situation. The teacher
would probably draw the implicature that the student was bored and

counted the minutes until the end of the lecture.

(7) is a flouting of the maxim of Quantity. The small boy is unhelpful in
someway because he fails to give enough information explicitly requested by
the policeman, i.e. the boy does not say anything about his father, who is in
fact at home.
(8) is a flouting of the maxim of Quality. The son refused to release the
name of the one who put the ferret in the bathtub though he certainly knows
who did it. A would draw the implicature that it is not B who put the

ferret in the bathtub.

Exercise 38: In each of the following decide whether each of the
inferences in brackets is a presupposition (P) or an implicature (I)
derived from the underlined utterance.
1.

P; 2. P; 3. I; 4. I; 5. P; 6. I, 7. P

Exercise 39: In each of the following decide whether each of the

inferences in brackets is a presupposition (P) or an implicature (I).
1. P; 2. I; 3. I; 4. I; 5. I; 6. P

215

Exercise 40: Give a situation in which each of the following utterances

occurs, interpret its meaning and then classify it according to
different types of speech acts.
1. Lets go to our place for a beer.
A: Lets go to our place for a beer.
B: All right.
A informally invites B to go and have a glass of beer.
This is A DIRECTIVE.
2. I dont know how to answer this question.
A: Why did you divorce her?
B: I dont know how to answer this question.
(By acknowledging his failure to give an appropriate answer to As
question,)
B indirectly conceals the real reason of the divorce from his ex-wife.
This is AN EXPRESSIVE.
3. Mind your head!
A: Mind your head!
B: Thanks for your timely warning.
A directly warns B of a danger. This is A DIRECTIVE.
4. How nice to see you!
A: How nice to see you!
B: Yes, its been quite a while.
A greets B in a friendly and somewhat surprising manner.
This is AN EXPRESSIVE.
5. Who will believe this story?
A: To make a long story short, Eds girlfriend falls in love with
Eds younger brother.
B: Who will believe this story?
(By making a Wh-question which needs no answer,)
B indirectly shows his or her doubt about such a crazy story.
This is AN EXPRESSIVE.
6. Is it right to cheat in any exam?

216

Student [taking an exam]: Ive just asked my neighbor for a

correction pen.
Teacher: Is it right to cheat in any exam?
(= It is quite wrong to cheat in any exam.)
The teacher indirectly says that cheating is not accepted in any exam.
This is A REPRESENTATIVE.
7. Would you like a cup of coffee?
A: Would you like a cup of coffee? (= Have some coffe, please.)
B: Yes, please.
As the hostess, A indirectly invites B, her honored guest, to have a cup
of coffee. This is A DIRECTIVE.
8. I was so sorry to hear about your loss.
A: I was so sorry to hear about your loss.
B: Thank you for your great sympathy.
A directly shows his/her willingness to share Bs suffering.
This is AN EXPRESSIVE.
9. Im dead tired now!
Wife: Dinner is almost ready. Can you set the table, dear?
Husband [complaining about his tiredness]: Im dead tired now!
The husband indirectly refuses to set the table for dinner.
This is AN EXPRESSIVE.
10. Im awfully sorry I wasnt at the meeting this morning.
A: Im awfully sorry I wasnt at the meeting this morning.
B: You dont need to apologize.
A directly apologizes to B. This is AN EXPRESSIVE.
11. If you dont try your best, youll fail in the exam.
Professor: If you dont try your best, youll fail in the exam.
(= Ill refuse to pass those who have not tried their best to take the course.)
Student 1: Oh, my goodness!
Student 2: There is no doubt about that.
Student 3: Im sure to take the make-up exam.
The professor indirectly commits to fail those who have not tried their
best to take the course. This is A COMMISSIVE.

217

12. Why dont you take a seat?

A: Can I talk to you for a while?
B: Certainly. Why dont you take a seat? (= Sit down, please.)
B indirectly requests A to sit down. This is A DIRECTIVE.
13. How dare you speak to her like that?
Tom: I told Jane that she was a talented liar.
Jack: How dare you speak to her like that?
Jack is annoyed by Toms rudeness. This is AN EXPRESSIVE.
14. You look lovely today in your new dress.
Manager: You look lovely today in your new dress.
Secretary: Thanks/Thank you for your nice compliment.
The manager directly compliments his secretary on her new dress.
This is AN EXPRESSIVE.
15. Id sell it if I were you.
Gordons friend: My car breaks down again.
Gordon: Id sell it if I were you. (= You should sell it.)
Gordon indirectly advises his friend to get rid of the frustrating car.
This is A DIRECTIVE.
16. Ill be right back.
Desk clerk: I beg your pardon. Ill be right back.
Client: No problem.
The desk clerk directly promises to return in a few minutes.
This is A COMMISSIVE.
17. I beg you to reconsider your decision.
Mrs. Brown: I beg you to reconsider your decision.
(= Please think it over.)
Mr. Brown: I have nothing to reconsider.
Mrs. Brown earnestly asks her husband to give his decision a second
thought. This is A DIRECTIVE.
18. Do you think Im an idiot?
Paul: Why dont you marry her?
Morris: Do you think Im an idiot?

218

(By making a Yes-No question the answer of which must be no,)

Morris indirectly rejects Pauls suggestion. This is AN EXPRESSIVE.
19. May I hand in my final paper the day after tomorrow?
Student: May I hand in my final paper the day after tomorrow?
Professor: Im afraid that I cannot give you any more time.
The student directly asks for permission to hand in his/her final paper
in two days. This is A DIRECTIVE.
20. We select Alfred as the head of our group.
Teacher: Who is the head of Group 2?
Doris: We select Alfred as the head of our group.
(On behalf of all the members of Group 2, who have just selected Alfred to
be their head,) Doris is directly announcing her groups selection.
This is A DECLARATIVE.
21. Ill pay you back in two days.
Carol: Ill pay you back in two days.
Laura: Can I trust your words?
Carol directly promises to pay Laura back in two days.
This is A COMMISSIVE.
22. We are going to turn you in.
A drunken relative: Just bring me another bottle of red wine.
The host: If you keep on misbehaving, we are going to turn you in.
On behalf of his wife, the speaker, who is the host of a party, threatens to
let the police arrest the hearer, who is a drunken irritating relative.
This is A COMMISSIVE.
23. I would appreciate it if you went away.
A: I cant live without your love.
B: I would appreciate it if you went away. (= Go away.)
B indirectly orders A to go away.
This is A DIRECTIVE.
24. Can I help you?
Shop assistant: Can I help you?
Customer: Yes, Im looking for some cheap shoes.

219

The shop assistant directly asks the customer for some information.
This is A ROGATIVE.
The shop assistant indirectly offers the customer some help.
This is A COMMISSIVE.
25. Ive stopped smoking.
A: Have a cigarette!
B: No, thanks. Ive stopped smoking.
B directly explains why he/she refuses As invitation.
This is A REPRESENTATIVE.
26. Goodness!
Johns mother [talking on the phone]: John had thirteen friends to tea on
his birthday yesterday.
Johns grandmother: Goodness! I didnt think a three-year-old like him
had as many as thirteen friends.
Johns grandmother directly cries out in surprise.
This is AN EXPRESSIVE.
27. Drink a cup of coffee.
A: I cant keep awake.
B: Drink a cup of coffee.
B directly advises A to drink a cup of coffee. This is A DIRECTIVE.
28. That doesnt sound very serious.
A: Ive got a sore throat.
B: That doesnt sound very serious.
B directly shows no sympathy towards As sore throat.
This is AN EXPRESSIVE.
29. Ive got to go now.
A: Ive got to go now.
B: OK. See you later.
A: See you.
A indirectly pre-closes the conversation between him/her and B.
This is AN EXPRESSIVE.
30. Someone said you got fired.

220

Mother: Someone said you got fired. (= Did you get fired?)
Daughter: Yes, but Ive already applied for another job.
The mother indirectly asks her daughter for some information.
This is A ROGATIVE.
Exercise 41: For each of the following utterances, provide two situations so
that one utterance performs two different acts. Interpret the utterances
and identify the acts performed in the light of the situations you provide.

1. Do you feel better today?

SITUATION 1:
Doctor: Do you feel better today?
Patient: Yes, I do.
The doctor directly asks her patient for some information.
This is A ROGATIVE.
SITUATION 2:
Mother [in hospital for a while]: Im glad that youre here with me again.
Son [in a very concerned manner]: Do you feel better today?
The son indirectly expresses his worry about his mothers health.
This is AN EXPRESSIVE.

2. I beg your pardon.

SITUATION 1:
A: Take this paper to the lady over there and ask for her signature.
B: I beg your pardon (= Repeat, please). I didnt hear what you said.
B indirectly requests A to repeat what he/she has just said.
This is A DIRECTIVE.
SITUATION 2:
A: Youve taken my seat.
B: Oh, I beg your pardon. (= Im terribly sorry.)
B directly apologizes to A for taking As seat by mistake.
This is AN EXPRESSIVE.

3. Its going to rain.

SITUATION 1:
Wife: Its going to rain.
(= Remember to bring the new raincoat with you.)

221

Husband: Ill bring the new raincoat with me. (= I will.)

The wife indirectly reminds her husband to bring the new raincoat with him.
This is A DIRECTIVE.
SITUATION 2:
Wife: The weatherman says that its going to rain.
Husband: I heard that on the radio this morning, too.
The wife directly reports what the weatherman has said.
This is A REPRESENTATIVE.

4. Its snowing.
SITUATION 1:
Mary: Whats the weather like in Boston?
Steve: Its snowing.
Steve directly gives a piece of information (to answer Marys
question). This is A REPRESENTATIVE.
SITUATION 2:
Hazel: Could you go and post this letter?
Glen: Its snowing. (= Im afraid that I have to say no to your
request.)
(By stating the fact that its snowing,) Glen indirectly refuses to go and
post the letter for Hazel.
This is AN EXPRESSIVE.

5. I said I didnt.
SITUATION 1:
A: Did you go to the theater last night?
B: I didnt.
A: Tell me the truth. Did you go to the theater last night?
B: I said I didnt.
B is annoyed by As repetition of the same question.
This is AN EXPRESSIVE.
SITUATION 2:
Jane: Mum asked me if I knew your new address.
Janes sister: And what did you say?
Jane: I said I didnt.
Jane directly gives a piece of information (to answer her sisters question).

222

This is A REPRESENTATIVE.

6. Theres a bend ahead.

SITUATION 1:
A: Is there any bend near here?
B: Theres a bend ahead.
B directly informs A of the fact that there is a bend ahead of them.
This is A REPRESENTATIVE.
SITUATION 2:
A: Be careful. Theres a bend ahead.
(= Drive carefully and slow down a bit.)
B: Thanks for your timely warning.
A indirectly asks B to drive carefully and slow down a bit (because
theres a bend ahead). This is A DIRECTIVE.

7. Keep off the grass.

SITUATION 1:
Son: What does the sign say, Mum.
Mother: Keep off the grass.
The mother directly gives a piece of information (to answer her sons
question). This is A REPRESENTATIVE.
SITUATION 2:
A: How smooth the lawn is!
B: Keep off the grass.
B directly orders A not to walk on the lawn. This is A DIRECTIVE.

8. Im very upset that so many of you are talking.

SITUATION 1:
Joe: Its my book.
Jenny: Your book is over there. This ones mine.
Jack: Your book is there and over there is Joes. This ones mine.
Mother: Im very upset that so many of you are talking.
The mother of three young children directly shows that she is
extremely annoyed by her childrens talkativeness.
This is AN EXPRESSIVE.
SITUATION 2:

223

Teacher: Im very upset that so many of you are talking.

Class monitor: Be quiet, please.
The teacher of a big class indirectly orders her pupils to stop talking
(and the monitor just paraphrases what the teacher has really said).
This is A DIRECTIVE.

9. Be aware of dogs.
SITUATION 1: [There are some dogs in the street. A sees the dogs
approaching B.]
A: Be aware of dogs.
B: Thanks for your timely warning.
A directly warns B of the dogs approaching. This is A DIRECTIVE.
SITUATION 2:
Daughter: What does the sign mean, Mum?
Mother: Be aware of dogs.
The mother directly provides her daughter with a piece of information.
This is A REPRESENTATIVE.

10. What else do you want?

SITUATION 1: [Mary goes shopping. Shes already chosen a fashionable blouse
and a well-formed skirt.]
Shop assistant: What else do you want?
Mary: Thats all. Thanks.
The shop assistant directly asks Mary for some information.
This is A ROGATIVE.
SITUATION 2:
A misbehaved seven-year-old boy keeps asking his mother to do this or
that for him while she is busy with a lot of housework. Being annoyed, the
mother shouts: What else do you want? The mother indirectly expresses
her annoyance.
This is AN EXPRESSIVE.
Exercise 42: Use the locution, illocution, and perlocution analysis to
analyse the underlined utterance in each of the following dialogues.

224

(1) Mrs Smiths neighbour: I was so sorry to hear about your loss.
Mrs Smith: Thank you. It was a great shock, but I must get used to it.
Locution: Mrs Smiths neighbour uttered the words I was so sorry to hear
about your loss, which can be semantically paraphrased as You
have my great sympathy, with I referring to the neighbour.
Illocution: The neighbour performed the act of condoling.
Perlocution: Mrs Smith, who is a recently bereaved widow and who expects
the neighbours utterance, gives a prepared reply: Thank you.
It was a great shock, but I must get used to it.
(2) A: Would you like a cup of coffee?
B: Yes, please.
Locution: A uttered the words Would you like a cup of coffee, which can
be semantically paraphrased as Have a cup of coffee, please,
with you referring to B.
Illocution: A performed the act of offering.
Perlocution: The utterance may cause B, who is the hearer, to think the
speaker, who is A, is more generous than he/she thought.
(3) Son: Can I go out for a while, Mum?
Mother: You can play outside for half an hour.
Locution: The mother uttered the words You can play outside for half an
hour, which can be semantically paraphrased as You have my
permission to go out for a while, with you referring to the son.
Illocution: The mother performed the act of giving permission.
Perlocution: The utterance may cause the son to race out of the room,
picking up his football on the way.
Exercise 43: Are the following utterances performative (P) or constative (C)?
1. P; 2. C; 3. P; 4. C; 5. P; 6. C; 7. P; 8. C; 9. P; 10. P

225

Exercise 44: Also note that the most reliable test to determine whether an
utterance is performative is to insert the word hereby and see if the
modified utterance is acceptable. Can hereby be acceptably inserted in
the following utterances?
1. Yes; 2. No; 3. No; 4. Yes; 5. Yes; 6. No; 7. Yes; 8. No; 9. Yes; 10. No
Exercise 45: Fill in each of the blanks with an appropriate word.
The first one is done as an example.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

226

Semantics
Homography
contradiction
Hyponymy
sentence
Antonymy
proposition
Homophony
utterance
reference

11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21

Anomaly
features
Homonymy
lexical
Partial
structurally
Polysemy
analytic
pragmatic
Synonymy
permorfative

LIST OF ENGLISH-VIETNAMESE
EQUIVALENT LINGUISTIC TERMS
(in alphabetical order)
abbreviation
abstract
additional
adjectival
adjunct
adverb
adverbial (1)
adverbial (2)
article
ambiguity
ambiguous
analytic sentence
approbation maxim
assert
assertion
assume
assumption
asymmetric
asymmetrically
anomaly
anomalous
antonym
antonymy

dang rut gon, dang tnh lc

(co tnh) tru tng
phu, bo sung
phu ng la tnh t
trang ng cua v t
trang t
(co tnh) trang ng
phu ng la trang t
quan t
tnh m ho ve ngha,
tnh lng ngha
(co tnh) m ho ve ngha,
lng ngha
cau phan tch
phng cham tan ong
tuyen bo
(s/li) tuyen bo
nhan nh
(s/li) nhan nh
khong oi xng
(mot cach) khong oi xng
tnh bat thng
(co tnh) bat thng
t trai ngha
quan he/tnh trai ngha
227

binary antonym
binary antonymy
binary oppositions
class
class membership
co-reference
co-operative
co-operative
co-operative principle
collocation (1)
collocation (2)
commonality
commissive
compatibility
compatible
componential analysis
concrete
connotation
connotative meaning
conscious metaphor
constant reference
constative (1)
constative (2)
content word
context
context-bound
context-dependent
context-free
continuous scale of values
228

t trai ngha lng phan

quan he/tnh trai ngha lng phan
the oi lap co-khong
lp, chung loai
t cach la thanh vien cua mot lp
(quan he) ong s ch
tnh hp tac
(co tnh) hp tac
nguyen tac hp tac
quan he ket hp
ket ngon, ng co nh
tnh chat chung
hanh ong cam ket
tnh tng hp
(co tnh) tng hp
s phan tch ngha to
(co tnh) cu the
ngha lien tng
ngha lien tng
an du co y thc
s ch co nh
(co tnh) nhan nh
cau nhan nh
thc t
ngon canh
b ngon canh rang buoc
b ngon canh rang buoc
khong b ngon canh rang buoc
thang gia tr lien tuc

s/cau nghch ly
contradiction
cau nghch ly
contradictory sentence
ham ngon c nh
conventional implicature
conversational implicature ham ngon hoi thoai
phng cham hoi thoai
conversational maxim
t trai ngha nghch ao
converse
ngha cot loi
core meaning
co the em c
countable
counter-factual presupposition tien gia nh phan hm thc
an du chet
dead metaphor
hanh ong tuyen bo
declarative
cau tran thuat
declarative sentence
xac nh
definite
quan t xac nh
definite article
trc ch
deixis
(co tnh) trc ch
deictic
t trc ch
deictic expression
tnh t ch xuat
demonstrative adjective
phu nhan, choi bo
deny
co the b phu nhan,
deniable
co the phu nhan c
ngha s th
denotation
ngha s th
denotative meaning
hang muc (liet ke) trong t ien
dictionary entry
(co tnh) trc tiep
direct
hanh ong ngon t trc tiep
direct speech act
tnh trc tiep
directness
hanh ong cau khien
directive
(co tnh) khu biet
distinct
s khu biet
distinction
229

keo theo
entail
quan he/cau keo theo
entailment
thc the
entity
(co tnh) hien ngon
explicit
cau hanh ngon hien ngon
explicit performative
(mot cach) hien ngon
explicitly
tnh hien ngon
explicitness
t nguyen (hoc)
etymology
loai tr
exclusive
chung toi
exclusive we
hanh ong bieu cam
expressive
expression of personification li noi co nhan cach hoa
tien gia nh tn ti
existential presupposition
s/qua trnh m rong
extension
phep noi kheo
euphemism (1)
li noi kheo, uyen ng
euphemism (2)
tien gia nh hm thc
factual presupposition
ieu kien hu hieu
felicity condition
ngon ng tng/gi hnh
figurative language
ngha bong
figurative meaning
hnh thai tu t
figure of speech
cach bieu at co nh, ng co nh
fixed expression
vi pham, bat chap (phng cham hoi thoai)
flout (conversational maxim)
s vi pham, viec bat chap
flouting
(of conversational maxim)

form
fossilized metaphor
function word
generic
generic lexical item
230

(phng cham hoi thoai)

hnh thai, hnh thc, dang

an du hoa thach
h t, t chc nng
(co tnh) tong loai
t ng co ngha tong loai

gradable antonym
gradable antonymy
grammar
grammatical
grammatical rule
grammatical structure
grammatically
grammatically correct
hierarchy
hierarchical
hierarchical classification
homograph
homographic
homography
homonym
homonymic
homonymy
homophone
homophonic
homophony
hyperbole (1)
hyperbole (2)
hyper(o)nym
hyponym
hyponymic
hyponymic relation(ship)
hyponymy
ideal
idiom

t trai ngha co thang o

quan he/tnh trai ngha co thang o
ng phap
(co tnh) ng phap
quy tac ng phap
cau truc ng phap
(ve mat) ng phap
ung ng phap
(he) ton ty
(co tnh) ton ty
s phan loai ton ty
t ong t
(co tnh) ong t
quan he/tnh ong t
t ong am ong t
(co tnh) ong am ong t
quan he/tnh ong am ong t
t ong am d t
(co tnh) ong am d t
quan he/tnh ong am d t
phep noi khoa trng, ngoa du
li noi khoa trng, ngoa du
thng danh
ha danh
(co tnh) bao ngha
quan he bao ngha
quan he/tnh bao ngha
(co tnh) ly tng
thanh ng
231

illocution/illocutionary act
illocutionary force/
illocutionary meaning
implicate
implicature
implicit
implicit performative
implicitness
imply
implied
inclusion
inclusive we
incompatibility
incompatible
incomplete version
indefinite
indefinite article
indexical
indirect
indirect speech act
indirectness
infer
inference
informative
interrogation
inscription
irony
ironical
ironical understatement
lexical
232

hanh ong tai ngon

lc tai ngon
co ham y la
ham ngon
(co tnh) ham an
cau hanh ngon ham an
tnh ham an
am ch
(co tnh) ham an
quan he bao ngha
chung ta
tnh khong tng hp
khong (co tnh) tng hp
phien ban khong hoan chnh
bat nh
quan t bat nh
t trc ch
(co tnh) gian tiep
hanh ong ngon t gian tiep
tnh gian tiep
suy dien
s/ieu suy dien
co gia tr thong tin
s/qua trnh nghi van hoa
van t
phep noi ma
(co tnh) ma mai
li noi giam e ma mai
(thuoc/co tnh) t vng

lexical ambiguity
lexically ambiguous
lexical field
lexical gap
lexical item
lexical meaning
lexical presupposition
lexical set
lexicon
linguistic
linguistic expression
linguistics
literal
literal meaning
literally
litotes
live metaphor
locution/locutionary act
locutionary meaning
marked
markedness
maxim of Manner
maxim of Relevance
maxim of Quality
maxim of Quantity
meaning
meiosis
metaphor (1)
metaphor (2)

tnh lng ngha t vng

(co tnh) lng ngha t vng
trng t vng
o trong t vng
(yeu to) t vng
ngha t vng
tien gia nh t vng
trng t vng
(von) t vng
(thuoc) ngon ng
cach bieu at bang ngon t
ngon ng hoc
(thuoc) ngha en
ngha en, ngha nguyen van
(xet ve) ngha en
phep noi giam, khiem du
an du song
hanh ong tao ngon
ngha menh e
(co tnh) hu trng, co anh dau
tnh hu trng, tnh chat co anh dau
phng cham ve phng thc
phng cham ve tnh quan yeu
phng cham ve chat
phng cham ve lng
ngha
phep noi giam, khiem du
phep an du
an du
233

metaphoric
metaphoric meaning
metonymy (1)
metonymy (2)
morphology
multiple
multiple senses
mutual
mutual entailment
mutually
mutually exclusive
negation
negative connotation
neutral connotation
non-factual presupposition
non-homographic
non-sentence
non-superficial
nonsense
notion
observation

(co tnh) an du
ngha an du
phep hoan du
hoan du
hnh thai hoc
a, nhieu
nhieu ngha
lan nhau
quan he/cau keo theo lan nhau
lan nhau
loai tr lan nhau
s/qua trnh phu nh
ngha lien tng tieu cc
ngha lien tng trung hoa
tien gia nh hm h
khong (co tnh) ong t
(cau truc) khong phai cau
sau, sau hn
cai vo ngha
khai niem
viec tuan thu

observe

tuan thu

one-way entailment
onomatopoeia
onamatopoeic word
opposite (1)
opposite (2)
optional

quan he/cau keo theo mot chieu

phep dung t tng thanh
t tng thanh
oi lap, trai ngc
cai oi lap
tuy chon

(of conversational maxim)

(conversational maxim)

234

(phng cham hoi thoai)

(phng cham hoi thoai)

overstatement (1)
overstatement (2)
paraphrase (1)
paraphrase (2)
partial synonym
partial synonymy
particular
performative (1)
performative (2)
performative verb
perlocution/
perlocutionary act
personal deixis
personification
phonology
politeness
polysemy
polysemic
polysemous
polysemous word
positive connotation
possessive
post-nominal
pragmatic
pragmatic meaning
pragmatically
pragmatically anomalous
pragmatics
presuppose
presupposition

phep noi khoa trng, ngoa du

li noi khoa trng, ngoa du
phong ngha
quan he/cau phong ngha
t ong ngha bo phan
quan he/tnh ong ngha bo phan
(co tnh) ca biet
(co tnh) hanh ngon
cau hanh ngon
v t hanh ngon
hanh ong xuyen ngon
trc ch ngi
phep nhan cach hoa
am v hoc, ng am hoc
tnh lch s
quan he/tnh a ngha
(co tnh) a ngha
(co tnh) a ngha
t a ngha
ngha lien tng tch cc
(co tnh) s hu
(ng/theo) sau danh t
(co tnh) ng dung
ngha ng dung
(ve mat) ng dung
bat thng ve ng dung
ng dung hc
tien gia nh
tien gia nh
235

primary meaning
primitive semantic feature
principle of politeness
pronunciation
proposition
propositional meaning
redundancy rule
referent
reference
referential
referential meaning
regional accent
relation
relational antonym
relational antonymy
relationship
relevance
relevant
representative
rogative
secondary meaning
semantic
semantic component
semantic feature
semantic field
semantic meaning
semantic property
semantic rule
semantically
236

ngha nguyen cap

net ngha goc
nguyen tac lch s
cach phat am, dang am thanh
menh e
ngha menh e
phep tha
vat s ch
s ch
(thuoc) s ch
ngha s ch
giong a phng
(moi) quan he
t trai ngha nghch ao
quan he/tnh trai ngha nghch ao
(moi) quan he
tnh quan yeu
(co tnh) quan yeu
hanh ong bieu hien
hanh ong cau khien e xin thong tin

ngha th cap
(co tnh) ng ngha
net ngha
net ngha
trng t vng
ngha ng ngha
net ngha
quy tac ng ngha
(ve mat) ng ngha

semantically anomalous
semantically compatible
semantically incompatible
semantics
semi-onomatopoeia
semi-onamatopoeic word
sense
sense relation
sentence
sentence meaning
sentence type
simile (1)
simile (2)
situation
sound form
spatial deixis
specific
specific lexical item
specifically
speech
speech act
speech-act category
spelling
state
statement
state of affairs
structure
structural
structural ambiguity

bat thng ve ng ngha

tng hp ve ng ngha
khong tng hp ve ng ngha
ng ngha hc
phep dung t ban tng thanh
t ban tng thanh
ngha
quan he ve ngha
cau
ngha cua cau
loai cau
phep ty du
ty du
tnh huong, tnh the
hnh thc/dang am thanh
trc ch khong gian
(co tnh) loai biet, cu the
t ng co ngha loai biet, cu the
(mot cach) cu the
li noi, ngon t, dien ngon
hanh ong ngon t
tieu loai hanh ong ngon t
cach anh van, dang ch viet
khang nh
li/cau khang nh
s tnh, s the
cau truc
(co tnh) cau truc
tnh lng ngha cau truc
237

structural presupposition
structurally
structurally ambiguous
subordinate
superordinate
symmetric
symmetrically
symmetry
synecdoche (1)
synecdoche (2)
synonym
synonymic
synonymous
synonymy
synthetic sentence
syntax
syntactic
syntactically
syntactically perfect
taboo word
tact maxim
taken literally
temporal deixis
text(ual) grammar
theory
theorical
true synonym
true synonymy
term
238

tien gia nh cu trc

(ve mat) cu trc
(co tnh) lng ngha cau truc
ha danh
thng danh
oi xng
(mot cach) oi xng
s oi xng
phep cai dung
li noi co phep cai dung
t ong ngha
(co tnh) ong ngha
(co tnh) ong ngha
quan he/tnh ong ngha
cau tong hp
cu phap (hoc)
(co tnh) cu phap
(ve mat) cu phap
hoan hao ve cu phap
t kieng k
phng cham x tr
c hieu theo ngha en
trc ch thi gian
ng phap van ban
ly thuyet
(co tnh) ly thuyet
t ong ngha toan phan
quan he/tnh ong ngha toan phan
t, thuat ng

terminological
terminological relationship
terminology
truth value
two-way entailment
unconcious metaphor
uncountable
understatement (1)
understatement (2)
unmarked
unmarkedness
unverbalized
utter
utterance
utterance meaning
variable reference
verbalized
violate
(conversational maxim)

violation
(of conversational maxim)

well-formed sentence
word
word meaning
written form

(co tnh) thuat ng

quan he gia cac thuat ng
thuat ng
gia tr chan nguy, gia tr chan ly
quan he/cau keo theo hai chieu
an du vo thc
khong the em c
phep noi giam, khiem du
li noi giam, khiem du
(co tnh) vo trng, khong anh dau
tnh vo trng, tnh chat khong anh dau

khong c noi ra, ham an

phat ngon, noi ra
phat ngon
ngha cua phat ngon
s ch khong co nh
c noi ra (thanh li), hien ngon
vi pham, bat chap

(phng cham hoi thoai)

s vi pham, viec bat chap

(phng cham hoi thoai)

cau chnh, cau ung ng phap

t, ting
ngha cua t
hnh thc/dang ch viet

239

LIST OF ENGLISH-VIETNAMESE
EQUIVALENT LINGUISTIC TERMS
(in related groups of notions as well as in alphabetical order)
abbreviation
abstract
additional
adjectival
adjunct
adverb
adverbial (1)
adverbial (2)
ambiguity
lexical ambiguity
structural ambiguity
ambiguous
lexically ambiguous
structurally ambiguous
article
definite article
indefinite article
assert
assertion
assume
assumption
asymmetric
asymmetrically
anomaly
anomalous
240

dang rut gon, dang tnh lc

(co tnh) tru tng
phu, bo sung
phu ng la tnh t
trang ng cua v t
trang t
(co tnh) trang ng
phu ng la trang t
tnh m ho ve ngha,
tnh lng ngha
tnh lng ngha t vng
tnh lng ngha cau truc
m ho ve ngha, lng ngha
lng ngha t vng
lng ngha cau truc
quan t
quan t xac nh
quan t bat nh
tuyen bo
(s/li) tuyen bo
nhan nh
(viec/li) nhan nh
khong oi xng
(mot cach) khong oi xng
tnh bat thng
(co tnh) bat thng

semantically anomalous
pragmatically anomalous
antonym
binary antonym
gradable antonym
relational antonym/
converse
antonymy
binary antonymy
gradable antonymy
relational antonymy
binary oppositions
class
class membership
collocation (1)
collocation (2)
commonality
compatibility
compatible
semantically compatible
componential analysis
concrete
co-operative principle
constative (1)
constative (2)
context
context-bound/
context-dependent
context-free
contextual

bat thng ve ng ngha

bat thng ve ng dung
t trai ngha
t trai ngha lng phan
t trai ngha co thang o
t trai ngha nghch ao
quan he/tnh trai ngha
quan he/tnh trai ngha lng phan
quan he/tnh trai ngha co thang o
quan he/tnh trai ngha nghch ao
the oi lap co-khong
lp, chung loai
t cach la thanh vien cua mot lp
quan he ket hp
ket ngon, ng co nh
tnh chat chung
tnh tng hp
(co tnh) tng hp
tng hp ve ng ngha
s phan tch ngha to
(co tnh) cu the
nguyen tac hp tac
(co tnh) nhan nh
cau nhan nh
ngon canh
b ngon canh rang buoc
khong b ngon canh rang buoc
(thuoc/co tnh) ngon canh
241

continuous scale of values

conversational maxim
maxim of Manner
maxim of Relevance
maxim of Quality
maxim of Quantity
approbation maxim
tact maxim
countable
declarative sentence
definite
deixis
personal deixis
spatial deixis
temporal deixis
deictic
deictic expression/indexical
demonstrative adjective
deny
deniable
dictionary entry
direct
directness
distinct
distinction
entail
entailment
one-way entailment
two-way entailment
242

thang gia tr lien tuc

phng cham hoi thoai
phng cham ve phng thc
phng cham ve tnh quan yeu
phng cham ve chat
phng cham ve lng
phng cham tan ong
phng cham x tr
co the em c
cau tran thuat
xac nh
trc ch
trc ch ngi
trc ch khong gian
trc ch thi gian
(co tnh) trc ch
t trc ch
tnh t ch xuat
phu nhan, choi bo
co the b phu nhan,
co thephu nhan c
hang muc (liet ke) trong t ien
(co tnh) trc tiep
tnh trc tiep
khu biet
s khu biet
keo theo
quan he/cau keo theo
quan he/cau keo theo mot chieu
quan he/cau keo theo hai chieu

mutual entailment
entity
etymology
exclusive
exclusive we
explicit/verbalized
explicitly
explicitness
extension
felicity condition
figurative language
simile
metaphor
personification
metonymy
synecdoche
hyperbole/overstatement
litotes/meiosis/
understatement
irony
euphemism
onomatopoeia
semi-onomatopoeia
figure of speech
simile
metaphor
dead metaphor
fossilized metaphor
unconcious metaphor
idiom

quan he/cau keo theo lan nhau

thc the
t nguyen (hoc)
loai tr
chung toi
(co tnh) hien ngon
(mot cach) hien ngon
tnh hien ngon
s/qua trnh m rong
ieu kien hu hieu
ngon ng tng/gi hnh
phep ty du
phep an du
phep nhan cach hoa
phep hoan du
phep cai dung
phep noi khoa trng, ngoa du
phep noi giam, khiem du
phep noi ma
phep noi kheo
phep dung t tng thanh
phep dung t ban tng thanh
hnh thai tu t
ty du
an du
an du chet
an du hoa thach
an du vo thc
thanh ng
243

fixed expression
live metaphor
conscious metaphor
expression of personification
metonymy
synecdoche
overstatement/hyperbole
understatement
ironical understatement
taboo word
euphemism
onamatopoeic word
semi-onamatopoeic word
flout/violate/breach/infrindge

cach bieu at co nh
an du song
an du co y thc
li noi co nhan cach hoa
hoan du
li noi co phep cai dung
li noi khoa trng, ngoa du
li noi giam, khiem du
li noi giam e ma mai
t kieng k
li noi kheo, uyen ng
t tng thanh
t ban tng thanh
vi pham, bat chap

flouting/violation

s vi pham, viec bat chap

form
sound form/pronunciation
written form/spelling
grammar
grammatical
grammatical rule
grammatical structure
grammatically
grammatically correct
hierarchy
hierarchical
hierarchical classification
hyponymy

hnh thai, hnh thc, dang

hnh thc/dang am thanh
hnh thc/dang ch viet
ng phap
(co tnh) ng phap
quy tac ng phap
cau truc ng phap
(ve mat) ng phap
ung ng phap
(he) ton ty
(co tnh) ton ty
s phan loai ton ty
quan he/tnh bao ngha

(conversational maxim)

(of conversational maxim)

244

(phng cham hoi thoai)

(phng cham hoi thoai)

hyponymic
hyponymic relation(ship)
hyponym/subordinate
immediate hyponym
superordinate/hyper(o)nym
homography
homographic
non-homographic
homograph
homophony
homophonic
homophone
homonymy
homonymic
homonym
ideal
implicate
implicature
conversational implicature
conventional implicature

implicit/implied/unverbalized
implicitness
imply
inclusion
inclusive we
incompatibility
incompatible
semantically incompatible
incomplete version

(co tnh) bao ngha

quan he bao ngha
ha danh
ha danh trc tiep
thng danh
quan he/tnh ong t
(co tnh) ong t
khong (co tnh) ong t
t ong t
quan he/tnh ong am d t
(co tnh) ong am d t
t ong am d t
quan he/tnh ong am ong t
(co tnh) ong am ong t
t ong am ong t
(co tnh) ly tng
co ham y la
ham ngon
ham ngon hoi thoai
ham ngon c nh
(co tnh) ham an
tnh ham an
am ch
quan he bao ngha
chung ta
tnh khong tng hp
khong tng hp
khong tng hp ve ng ngha
phien ban khong hoan chnh
245

indefinite
indexical/deictic expression
indirect
indirectness
infer
inference
informative
inscription
interrogation
lexical
lexical gap
lexical item
generic lexical item
specific lexical item
lexical meaning
lexicon
linguistics
linguistic
linguistic expression
literal
literally
taken literally
markedness
marked
meaning
denotation/
denotative meaning
referential meaning
connotation/
connotative meaning
246

bat nh
t trc ch
(co tnh) gian tiep
tnh gian tiep
suy dien
s/ieu suy dien
co gia tr thong tin
van t
s/qua trnh nghi van hoa
(thuoc/co tnh) t vng
o trong t vng
(yeu to) t vng
t ng co ngha tong loai
t ng co ngha loai biet
ngha t vng
(von) t vng
ngon ng hoc
(thuoc) ngon ng
cach bieu at bang ngon t
(thuoc) ngha en
(xet ve) ngha en
c hieu theo ngha en
tnh hu trng, tnh chat co anh dau
(co tnh) hu trng, co anh dau
ngha
ngha s th
ngha s ch
ngha lien tng

positive connotation
negative connotation
neutral connotation
primary meaning
secondary meaning
literal meaning
figurative meaning
core meaning
metaphoric meaning
word meaning
lexical meaning
sentence meaning
utterance meaning
semantic meaning
pragmatic meaning
morphology
multiple
mutual
mutually
mutually exclusive
negation
non-superficial
notion
observation

ngha lien tng tch cc

ngha lien tng tieu cc
ngha lien tng trung hoa
ngha nguyen cap
ngha th cap
ngha en
ngha bong
ngha cot loi
ngha an du
ngha cua t
ngha t vng
ngha cua cau
ngha cua phat ngon
ngha ng ngha
ngha ng dung
hnh thai hoc
a, nhieu
lan nhau
lan nhau
loai tr lan nhau
s/qua trnh phu nh
sau, sau hn
khai niem
s/viec tuan thu

observe

tuan thu

opposite (1)
opposite (2)
optional

oi lap, trai ngc

cai oi lap
(co tnh) tuy chon

(of conversational implicature)

(conversational implicature)

(phng cham hoi thoai)

(phng cham hoi thoai)

247

paraphrase (1)
paraphrase (2)
performative (1)
performative (2)
explicit performative
implicit performative
performative verb
particular
phonology
politeness
polysemy
polysemous/polysemic
polysemous word
possessive
post-nominal
pragmatics
pragmatic
pragmatically
pragmatically anomalous
presuppose
presupposition
existential presupposition
factual presupposition
non-factual presupposition
lexical presupposition
structural presupposition
counter-factual presupposition
principle of politeness
proposition
248

phong ngha
quan he/cau phong ngha
(co tnh) hanh ngon
cau hanh ngon
cau hanh ngon hien ngon
cau hanh ngon ham an
v t hanh ngon
(co tnh) ca biet
am v hoc, ng am hoc
tnh lch s
quan he/tnh a ngha
(co tnh) a ngha
t a ngha
(co tnh) s hu
(ng/theo) sau danh t
ng dung hc
(co tnh) ng dung
(ve mat) ng dung
bat thng ve ng dung
tien gia nh
tien gia nh
tien gia nh tn ti
tien gia nh hm thc
tien gia nh hm h
tien gia nh t vng
tien gia nh cu trc
tien gia nh phan hm thc
nguyen tac lch s
menh e

phep tha
redundancy rule
s ch
reference
s ch co nh
constant reference
s ch khong co nh
variable reference
(quan he) ong s ch
co-reference
vat s ch
referent
giong a phng
regional accent
(moi) quan he
relation/relationship
tnh quan yeu
relevance
(co tnh) quan yeu
relevant
ng ngha hc
semantics
(co tnh) ng ngha
semantic
semanticfeature/component/property net ngha
net ngha goc
primitive semantic feature
trng t vng
semantic field/lexical field/lexical set
quy tac ng ngha
semantic rule
(ve mat) ng ngha
semantically
bat thng ve ng ngha
semantically anomolous
tng hp ve ng ngha
semantically compatible
semantically incompatible khong tng hp ve ng ngha
ngha
sense
nhieu ngha
multiple senses
quan he ve ngha
sense relation
cai vo ngha
nonsense
cau
sentence
loai cau
sentence type
cau phan tch
analytic sentence
cau tong hp
synthetic sentence
contradiction/
contradictory sentence cau nghch ly
249

cau chnh, cau ung ng phap

well-formed sentence
(cau truc) khong phai cau
non-sentence
cau tran thuat
declarative sentence
tnh huong, tnh the
situation
li noi, ngon t, dien ngon
speech
hanh ong ngon t
speech act
hanh ong ngon t trc tiep
direct speech act
hanh ong ngon t gian tiep
indirect speech act
hanh ong tao ngon
locution/locutionary act
hanh ong tai ngon
illocution/illocutionary act
perlocution/perlocutionary act hanh ong xuyen ngon
locutionary meaning/
propositional meaning ngha menh e
illocutionary meaning/
lc tai ngon
illocutionary force
tieu loai hanh ong ngon t
speech-act category
hanh ong bieu hien
representative
hanh ong cam ket
commissive
hanh ong tuyen bo
declarative
hanh ong bieu cam
expressive
hanh ong cau khien
directive
hanh ong cau khien e xin thong tin
rogative
khang nh
state
(li/cau) khang nh
statement
s tnh, s the
state of affairs
cau truc
structure
s oi xng
symmetry
oi xng
symmetric
(mot cach) oi xng
symmetrically
quan he/tnh ong ngha
synonymy
250

true synonymy
partial synonymy
synonym
true synonym
partial synonym
synonymic
syntax
syntactic
syntactically
syntactically perfect
term
terminological
terminological relationship
terminology
text(ual) grammar
truth value
uncountable
unmarkedness
unmarked
utter
utterance
word
content word
function word
word relationship

quan he/tnh ong ngha toan phan

quan he/tnh ong ngha bo phan
t ong ngha
t ong ngha toan phan
t ong ngha bo phan
(co tnh) ong ngha
cu phap
(thuoc/mang tnh) cu phap
(ve mat) cu phap
hoan hao ve cu phap
t, thuat ng
(co tnh) thuat ng
quan he gia cac thuat ng
thuat ng
ng phap van ban
gia tr chan nguy, gia tr chan ly
khong the em c
tnh vo trng,
tnh chat khong anh dau
(co tnh) vo trng, khong anh dau
phat ngon, noi ra
phat ngon
t, ting
thc t
h t, t chc nng
quan he gia cac t

251

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