Português - Aula 03 - Conceitos de Semântica

Summary

In this lesson, Professor Fábio D'Ávila explores the core concepts of semantics, focusing on the significance of linguistic signs, word meaning, and context. He explains the difference between denotation (literal meaning) and connotation (implied meaning), as well as other key concepts such as polysemy, synonymy, antonymy, and ambiguity. The lesson also highlights the importance of context in shaping meaning and how words can have multiple interpretations based on context. Additionally, it covers homonyms, paronyms, and common errors like slips of the tongue. This content is crucial for understanding language nuances in exams like the ENEM.

Takeaways

• 😀 Semantics refers to the study of meaning, and it involves the relationship between words (signifiers) and their meanings (signified).
• 😀 A word consists of two parts: the signifier (physical expression, whether written or spoken) and the signified (the meaning associated with it).
• 😀 Polysemy occurs when the same signifier (word) has multiple meanings depending on context, such as 'line' in different scenarios like 'a sewing line' or 'a football attack line'.
• 😀 Context is crucial for understanding polysemy, as it determines which meaning of a word is being used in a sentence, paragraph, or text.
• 😀 Denotation refers to the literal or official meaning of a word, while connotation involves additional meanings or associations that go beyond the literal.
• 😀 Synonymy is when two words have the same or very similar meanings and can be swapped without changing the meaning of the sentence.
• 😀 Antonymy describes a relationship between words with opposite meanings, like 'high' vs 'low' or 'fat' vs 'thin', and is context-dependent.
• 😀 Ambiguity arises when a word or sentence has multiple meanings that make it unclear, often due to structure or pronouns, like 'John fell off the horse'.
• 😀 Hyponymy and hypernymy describe the relationship between words where one is more specific (hyponym) and the other more general (hypernym), like 'Labrador' being a specific type of 'dog'.
• 😀 A 'slip' or 'error' in word usage occurs when words that are phonetically or orthographically similar are confused, such as 'fuzil' vs 'fusível'.

Q & A

What is the definition of semantics in the context of the lecture?

Semantics refers to the study of meaning, specifically the sense or meaning of words and expressions. It involves understanding the connection between a word's physical form (signifier) and its meaning (signified).

What are the two components of a word in semantic analysis?

A word is divided into two components: the signifier (the physical form, which can be spoken or written) and the signified (the meaning or content associated with that word).

How does polysemy work, and can you give an example?

Polysemy occurs when a single signifier (word) has multiple meanings. For example, the word 'line' can refer to a sewing line, an attacking line in a sport, or even a line of thinking, each with different meanings depending on the context.

What is the role of linguistic context in disambiguating polysemy?

The linguistic context helps clarify which meaning of a polysemous word is being used. Context is key to understanding the specific sense of the word in a given sentence or situation.

What is the difference between denotation and connotation?

Denotation refers to the literal or official meaning of a word, while connotation refers to the additional meanings or emotional associations that a word may have beyond its literal sense.

How do synonyms work in semantics?

Synonyms are words that have similar meanings and can often be used interchangeably without changing the overall meaning of a sentence. For example, 'found' and 'discovered' are synonyms in certain contexts.

What is antonymy, and how does context affect it?

Antonymy involves pairs of words with opposite meanings, such as 'hot' vs. 'cold' or 'big' vs. 'small.' Context is crucial in determining antonymy, as some words may not have true opposites depending on the situation.

What is ambiguity in language, and can you give an example?

Ambiguity occurs when a sentence or phrase can be interpreted in multiple ways. For example, 'Diego hit the old lady with a cane' can be interpreted as either Diego hitting an old lady holding a cane, or Diego hitting an old lady with a cane.

What is entailment in semantics?

Entailment refers to a situation where the meaning of one phrase implies the meaning of another. For example, 'Janjão likes to go out with his labrador' entails 'Janjão likes to go out with his dog,' because a labrador is a specific type of dog.

How are homonyms and paronyms different?

Homonyms are words that sound or are spelled the same but have different meanings, such as 'bank' (a financial institution vs. the side of a river). Paronyms are words that are similar in sound or spelling but have different meanings, like 'ascend' vs. 'acend.'