Polysemy vs
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Polysemy vs

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Questions and Answers

What are polysemous words?

Words that possess two or more related senses.

What are homonyms?

Words that possess two or more unrelated meanings.

How are polysemous words distinguished from homonyms in dictionaries?

Polysemous words are given one single entry based on their etymology and core meaning, while each homonym receives a separate entry.

What is the difference between homographs and homophones?

<p>Homographs have the same written form but different spoken form, while homophones have the same pronunciation but different written form.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are prototypical homonyms?

<p>Words that are identical in both spoken and written forms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of polysemy?

<p>When a word has multiple meanings that are related conceptually or historically.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Can a word be both polysemous and a homonym?

<p>Yes, if it possesses multiple related senses and unrelated meanings.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between homonymy and polysemy, and why is it sometimes arbitrary?

<p>Homonymy refers to when two words have the same spelling or pronunciation but different meanings, while polysemy refers to when one word has multiple related meanings. The distinction between the two can be arbitrary because it is based on speakers' intuition and can vary.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the two meanings of the word 'gay'?

<p>The word 'gay' has two meanings: 'lively, light-hearted, bright' and 'homosexual'.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the two meanings of 'gay' came first?

<p>The meaning 'lively, light-hearted, bright' came first.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Are the two meanings of 'gay' considered distinct by all English speakers?

<p>No, for some English speakers, the two meanings may seem like homonyms.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of homonymy?

<p>Homonymy refers to when two words have the same spelling or pronunciation but different meanings.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of polysemy?

<p>Polysemy refers to when one word has multiple related meanings.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why is the distinction between homonymy and polysemy important?

<p>The distinction is important for understanding language and communication, as well as for language learning and teaching.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Polysemous words possess two or more ______ senses

<p>related</p> Signup and view all the answers

Homonyms possess two or more ______ meanings

<p>unrelated</p> Signup and view all the answers

Homonyms receive a separate entry in dictionaries because they have arisen from different ______ sources

<p>historical</p> Signup and view all the answers

Homographs are associated with the same ______ form but different spoken form

<p>written</p> Signup and view all the answers

Homophones are pronounced the same, but have different ______ form

<p>written</p> Signup and view all the answers

When a word has multiple meanings that are related ______ or historically, it is said to be polysemous

<p>conceptually</p> Signup and view all the answers

Prototypical homonyms are identical in both ______ and written forms

<p>spoken</p> Signup and view all the answers

The distinction between homonymy and polysemy is in many cases rather arbitrarily drawn and may differ in speakers’ ______.

<p>intuition</p> Signup and view all the answers

For many speakers, the two senses of the word 'gay' are quite distinct, and they may seem like ______ to some English speakers.

<p>homonyms</p> Signup and view all the answers

The adjective 'gay' has two meanings: 'lively, light-hearted, bright' and ______.

<p>'homosexual'</p> Signup and view all the answers

The latter meaning of the word 'gay' was derived from the former ______ in recent history.

<p>meaning</p> Signup and view all the answers

The distinction between homonymy and polysemy can be ______ at times.

<p>arbitrary</p> Signup and view all the answers

The two senses of the word 'gay' may differ in some speakers’ intuition, but they are considered ______ by all English speakers.

<p>distinct</p> Signup and view all the answers

Polysemous words always have a shared core meaning.

<p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

The adjective 'gay' is an example of a word that is both ______ and polysemous.

<p>homonymous</p> Signup and view all the answers

Homonyms always have unrelated meanings.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

Homographs are pronounced the same but have different written forms.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

Homophones are associated with the same written form but different spoken forms.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

The word 'lead' is an example of a homograph.

<p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

A word cannot be both polysemous and a homonym.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

The word 'diamond' is an example of a polysemous word.

<p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

Is the distinction between homonymy and polysemy always clear and consistent in speakers' intuition?

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

Can the two meanings of 'gay' be considered homonyms by some English speakers?

<p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

Did the meaning 'homosexual' derive from the meaning 'lively, light-hearted, bright' in recent history?

<p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

Do all English speakers consider the two senses of 'gay' to be distinct?

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

Are homonyms and polysemous words always mutually exclusive?

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

Is the arbitrary distinction between homonymy and polysemy drawn differently by different speakers?

<p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

Is the adjective 'gay' an example of a word that is only homonymous, but not polysemous?

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between homonymy and polysemy?

<p>Homonyms have unrelated meanings, while polysemous words have related or historically derived meanings</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a homonymous word?

<p>Diamond</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a polysemous word?

<p>Gay</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the derived meaning of the word 'gay'?

<p>Homosexual</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why do homonyms receive a separate entry in dictionaries?

<p>Because they have arisen from different etymological sources</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why might the two meanings of 'gay' seem like homonyms to some English speakers?

<p>Because the two meanings are pronounced the same</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between homonymy and polysemy according to speakers' intuition?

<p>It is rather arbitrarily drawn and may differ</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between polysemous words and homonyms?

<p>Polysemous words have related senses, while homonyms have unrelated meanings</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between homographs and homophones?

<p>Homographs have different written forms, while homophones have the same pronunciation</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a prototypical homonym?

<p>A word that is identical in both spoken and written forms</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the criteria used by dictionaries to distinguish between polysemous words and homonyms?

<p>Etymology and core meaning</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a homonym?

<p>Bank (side of a river) and bank (a financial institution)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between homonyms and polysemous words in terms of entries in dictionaries?

<p>Homonyms receive a separate entry, while polysemous words are given one single entry</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a polysemous word?

<p>Diamond (referring to a geometric shape and also to a baseball field that has that shape)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Polysemy and Homonymy

  • Polysemous words are words that have multiple related senses or meanings that are historically or conceptually connected.
  • Homonyms are words that have two or more unrelated meanings, often with different origins or sources.
  • Polysemous words possess two or more related senses, while homonyms possess two or more unrelated meanings.
  • In dictionaries, polysemous words are listed under a single entry, while homonyms receive separate entries because they have arisen from different sources.

Homographs and Homophones

  • Homographs are words that are associated with the same written form but have different spoken forms and meanings.
  • Homophones are words that are pronounced the same but have different written forms and meanings.

Examples and Distinctions

  • The adjective 'gay' is an example of a word that is both polysemous and a homonym, with two meanings: 'lively, light-hearted, bright' and 'homosexual'.
  • The two meanings of 'gay' may differ in some speakers' intuition, but they are considered distinct by all English speakers.
  • The distinction between homonymy and polysemy can be arbitrary and may differ in speakers' intuition.
  • Polysemous words always have a shared core meaning, while homonyms always have unrelated meanings.

Key Concepts

  • Prototypical homonyms are identical in both spoken and written forms.
  • The criteria used by dictionaries to distinguish between polysemous words and homonyms is whether the word has multiple related senses or unrelated meanings.
  • The main difference between homonymy and polysemy is that homonyms have unrelated meanings, while polysemous words have related senses.

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Test your knowledge of polysemy and homonymy with this quiz! Learn about the differences between these two semantic phenomena and how they are distinguished in dictionaries. Keywords: language, semantics, polysemy, homonymy, dictionaries.

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