56 Questions
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?
Homographs have the same written form but different spoken form, while homophones have the same pronunciation but different written form.
What are prototypical homonyms?
Words that are identical in both spoken and written forms.
What is the definition of polysemy?
When a word has multiple meanings that are related conceptually or historically.
Can a word be both polysemous and a homonym?
Yes, if it possesses multiple related senses and unrelated meanings.
What is the difference between homonymy and polysemy, and why is it sometimes arbitrary?
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.
What are the two meanings of the word 'gay'?
The word 'gay' has two meanings: 'lively, light-hearted, bright' and 'homosexual'.
Which of the two meanings of 'gay' came first?
The meaning 'lively, light-hearted, bright' came first.
Are the two meanings of 'gay' considered distinct by all English speakers?
No, for some English speakers, the two meanings may seem like homonyms.
What is the definition of homonymy?
Homonymy refers to when two words have the same spelling or pronunciation but different meanings.
What is the definition of polysemy?
Polysemy refers to when one word has multiple related meanings.
Why is the distinction between homonymy and polysemy important?
The distinction is important for understanding language and communication, as well as for language learning and teaching.
Polysemous words possess two or more ______ senses
related
Homonyms possess two or more ______ meanings
unrelated
Homonyms receive a separate entry in dictionaries because they have arisen from different ______ sources
historical
Homographs are associated with the same ______ form but different spoken form
written
Homophones are pronounced the same, but have different ______ form
written
When a word has multiple meanings that are related ______ or historically, it is said to be polysemous
conceptually
Prototypical homonyms are identical in both ______ and written forms
spoken
The distinction between homonymy and polysemy is in many cases rather arbitrarily drawn and may differ in speakers’ ______.
intuition
For many speakers, the two senses of the word 'gay' are quite distinct, and they may seem like ______ to some English speakers.
homonyms
The adjective 'gay' has two meanings: 'lively, light-hearted, bright' and ______.
'homosexual'
The latter meaning of the word 'gay' was derived from the former ______ in recent history.
meaning
The distinction between homonymy and polysemy can be ______ at times.
arbitrary
The two senses of the word 'gay' may differ in some speakers’ intuition, but they are considered ______ by all English speakers.
distinct
Polysemous words always have a shared core meaning.
True
The adjective 'gay' is an example of a word that is both ______ and polysemous.
homonymous
Homonyms always have unrelated meanings.
False
Homographs are pronounced the same but have different written forms.
False
Homophones are associated with the same written form but different spoken forms.
False
The word 'lead' is an example of a homograph.
True
A word cannot be both polysemous and a homonym.
False
The word 'diamond' is an example of a polysemous word.
True
Is the distinction between homonymy and polysemy always clear and consistent in speakers' intuition?
False
Can the two meanings of 'gay' be considered homonyms by some English speakers?
True
Did the meaning 'homosexual' derive from the meaning 'lively, light-hearted, bright' in recent history?
True
Do all English speakers consider the two senses of 'gay' to be distinct?
False
Are homonyms and polysemous words always mutually exclusive?
False
Is the arbitrary distinction between homonymy and polysemy drawn differently by different speakers?
True
Is the adjective 'gay' an example of a word that is only homonymous, but not polysemous?
False
What is the main difference between homonymy and polysemy?
Homonyms have unrelated meanings, while polysemous words have related or historically derived meanings
What is an example of a homonymous word?
Diamond
What is an example of a polysemous word?
Gay
What is the derived meaning of the word 'gay'?
Homosexual
Why do homonyms receive a separate entry in dictionaries?
Because they have arisen from different etymological sources
Why might the two meanings of 'gay' seem like homonyms to some English speakers?
Because the two meanings are pronounced the same
What is the difference between homonymy and polysemy according to speakers' intuition?
It is rather arbitrarily drawn and may differ
What is the main difference between polysemous words and homonyms?
Polysemous words have related senses, while homonyms have unrelated meanings
What is the difference between homographs and homophones?
Homographs have different written forms, while homophones have the same pronunciation
What is a prototypical homonym?
A word that is identical in both spoken and written forms
What is the criteria used by dictionaries to distinguish between polysemous words and homonyms?
Etymology and core meaning
What is an example of a homonym?
Bank (side of a river) and bank (a financial institution)
What is the difference between homonyms and polysemous words in terms of entries in dictionaries?
Homonyms receive a separate entry, while polysemous words are given one single entry
What is an example of a polysemous word?
Diamond (referring to a geometric shape and also to a baseball field that has that shape)
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.
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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