Semasiology

Let’s see example there is no central meaning.

Ex:

the word dull:

• Uninteresting, monotonous, boring; e. g. a dull book, a dull film.

2) Slow in understanding, stupid; e. g. a dull student.

3) Not clear or bright; e. g. dull weather, a dull day, a dull colour.

4) Not loud or distinct; e. g. a dull sound.

5) Not sharp; e. g. a dull knife.

6) Not active; e. g. Trade is dull.

7) Seeing badly; e. g. dull eyes

8) Hearing badly; e. g. dull ears

Types of semantic component

Denotative component is the living semantic meaning. The denotative component expresses the conceptual content of a word.

Ex:

lonely  alone without company

celebrated  well know

to glance  to look

to shiver  to tremble

Connotative components give full picture of meaning.

Connotative components give full picture of meaning.

Ex:

lonely - emotive connotation

celebrated - evaluative connotation, positive

to glare - Connotation of duration ; Emotive connotation

to glance - Connotation of duration

to shudder - Connotation of duration ; Connotation of cause ; Emotive connotation

Meaning and Context

Context is a powerful possibility preventative against mist understanding of meaning.

We can understand the meaning of the word only in combination with other words.

Ex: adj. - dull Ex: adj. – bright

a dull book a) bright colour (flower)