Polysemy in Linguistics

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Questions and Answers

What is polysemy?

  • A word with unclear meanings
  • A word with multiple meanings (correct)
  • A word with opposite meanings
  • A word with one meaning

What is the opposite of polysemy?

  • Polygamy
  • Monosemy (correct)
  • Synonymy
  • Homonymy

How are polysemous words listed in a dictionary?

  • As separate words
  • Under multiple entries
  • In alphabetical order
  • Under a single entry (correct)

One fundamental characteristic of polysemous words is that all the different meanings are associated in related senses. Because of this, what type of meanings does polysemy have?

<p>Denotative and connotative meanings (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of words have different meanings but the same pronunciation and/or spelling?

<p>Homonymic words (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a homonymic word?

<p>'Address' - to address vs. an address (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which term refers to words with different meanings but the same pronunciation and/or spelling?

<p>Homonymy (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a fundamental characteristic of polysemous words?

<p>All meanings are associated in related senses (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'polysemy' derive from?

<p>Greek words meaning 'many signs' (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

If a word has only one meaning it is a

<p>monosemy (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

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Study Notes

Polysemy

  • Refers to the phenomenon where a single word or phrase has multiple related meanings
  • Derives from Greek words "poly" (meaning 'many') and "sēma" (meaning 'sign')

Characteristics of Polysemous Words

  • Have multiple meanings that are associated in related senses
  • Often have denotative and connotative meanings
  • Listed under a single dictionary entry
  • Must stem from the same word class (e.g. noun-noun)
  • Examples: mouse (animal - computer device), wings (parts of birds for flying - part of a building), beam (line of light - piece of wood)

Monosemy

  • Refers to when one word has only one meaning
  • Opposite of polysemy

Homonymic Words

  • Refers to words with different meanings but with the same pronunciation and/or spelling
  • Listed under multiple dictionary entries
  • Can be verb-noun combination: to address - an address, to rock - a rock, to park - a park

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