Semantics: Meaning in Language

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Questions and Answers

Which list contains words that primarily denote abstract concepts rather than tangible entities?

idea, love, charity, sincerity, bravery, fear. (correct)
pine, elm, ash, weeping willow, sycamore.
book, temple, mountain, road, tractor.
book, letter, encyclopedia, novel, notebook, dictionary.

In the context of semantic roles, which of the following best defines the 'Experiencer'?

The entity that is involved in or affected by the action.
The entity that undergoes a feeling, perception, or state. (correct)
The entity used by the agent to perform an action.
The entity that performs an action intentionally.

Which of the following sentences demonstrates the correct identification of the 'Instrument' semantic role?

Mary saw a mosquito on the wall.
Mary felt happy about the news.
Mary cooked the meal last night.
Mary wrote the letter with my pen. (correct)

Given the semantic role of 'Agent', which sentence exemplifies its correct usage?

Mary cooked the meal last night. (D) Signup and view all the answers

When categorizing words, which group primarily consists of verbs related to different manners of speaking?

shout, whisper, mutter, drawl, holler (D) Signup and view all the answers

Consider the semantic nuances of the words 'alleged,' 'counterfeit,' 'false,' 'putative,' and 'accused.' What is the most accurate common thread that links these words?

They all imply a deviation from a standard of authenticity or truth. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which group of words represents pairs of antonyms, expressing direct oppositions in meaning?

absent–present, alive–dead, asleep–awake, married–single (C) Signup and view all the answers

In the sentence, 'Mary saw a mosquito on the wall,' what is the semantic role of 'the wall'?

Location (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following groups consists of items typically used for writing or creating marks?

typewriter, pencil, pen, crayon, quill, charcoal, chalk (D) Signup and view all the answers

Consider the nuances in meaning among the words: 'ask,' 'tell,' 'say,' 'talk,' and 'converse.' What underlying theme connects them?

Modes of verbal exchange (A) Signup and view all the answers

In the sentence, 'The chef prepared a gourmet meal for the discerning food critic,' which semantic role BEST describes 'the discerning food critic'?

Benefactive, because they receive the meal as a benefit. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Consider the sentence: 'The earthquake shattered the ancient vase.' Which of the following semantic roles is BEST represented by 'the ancient vase'?

Patient, as it undergoes the effect of the action. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Identify the semantic role of 'the summit' in the sentence: 'After a grueling climb, the mountaineers reached the summit.'

Goal, representing the destination of the movement. (D) Signup and view all the answers

In the sentence, 'The detective interrogated the suspect for hours,' what semantic role does 'the suspect' fulfill?

Patient, undergoing the action of interrogation. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which semantic role is BEST exemplified by 'the haunting melody' in the sentence: 'The haunting melody captivated the audience'?

Percept, being the entity experienced by the audience. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Analyze the sentence: 'With a well-aimed kick, Maria propelled the ball across the field.' Which semantic role does 'the ball' fulfill?

Patient, undergoing the action of being propelled. (D) Signup and view all the answers

In the sentence 'The old key unlocked the heavy door', what semantic role is played by 'the old key'?

Source, because it initiates the action of unlocking. (B) Signup and view all the answers

In the sentence, 'The captivating novel transported Emily to another world,' what semantic role is played by 'the captivating novel'?

Source, initiating Emily's experience of entering another world. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Analyze the semantic roles in the sentence: 'With trembling hands, the surgeon performed the delicate operation on the patient.' Which role BEST describes 'the delicate operation'?

Patient, as it undergoes careful execution by the surgeon. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following sentences BEST exemplifies the semantic role of 'Recipient'?

The charity organization graciously accepted the generous donation from the benefactor. (B) Signup and view all the answers

How do semantic features contribute to our understanding of word relationships?

They break down word meanings into components, revealing similarities and differences. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Consider the sentence, 'The bicycle recited a poem.' Which semantic principle does this sentence violate?

Selectional restrictions (B) Signup and view all the answers

In the context of semantic analysis, what is exemplified by Noam Chomsky's phrase, 'Colourless green ideas sleep furiously'?

A scenario where semantic violations undermine an otherwise grammatically sound sentence. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What role do lexical entries play in the determination of a word's permissible usage?

They detail the semantic properties and selectional restrictions governing a word's use. (A) Signup and view all the answers

How do selectional restrictions limit the combinations of words in a sentence?

By dictating the acceptable semantic categories of related words. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Consider these word groups: (a) Bachelor, man, son, paperboy, pope, chief (b) Bull, rooster, drake, ram

Which semantic property do the (a) and (b) words share, and what distinguishes them?

Share: 'male'; Distinguish: (a) 'human', (b) 'animal' (B) Signup and view all the answers

Consider these word groups: (a) Walk, run, skip, jump, hop, swim (b) Fly, skate, ski, ride, cycle, canoe, hang-glide

What semantic property do the (a) and (b) words share, and what distinguishes them?

Share: 'motion through space'; Distinguish: (a) 'primarily terrestrial', (b) 'requires equipment or external aid'. (C) Signup and view all the answers

How does the consideration of semantic features enhance the precision of natural language processing (NLP) systems when compared to systems relying solely on syntax?

It enables NLP systems to better discern ambiguous meanings and context-dependent interpretations. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What theoretical challenge do sentences like 'Invisible elephants knit sweaters quickly' present to formal semantic theories?

They highlight the difficulty of modeling sentences that are syntactically simple but semantically paradoxical. (D) Signup and view all the answers

In what way might the semantic analysis of metaphors benefit from incorporating cognitive theories of conceptual blending?

It explains how metaphors bypass traditional semantic rules by creating novel conceptual spaces. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Semantics

The study of the meaning of words, phrases, and sentences.

Linguistic Semantics

Deals with conventional meanings conveyed through language use.