Components of Lexical Meaning
Lexical meaning is not homogenous either and may be analysed as including denotative and connotative components.
Denotative (denotational) (Lat. denotatum ‘signified’) component is the conceptual content of the word fulfilling its significative and communicative functions; our experience is conceptualised and classified in it.
Connotative (connotational) (Lat. connoto ‘additional meaning’) component conveys the speaker’s attitude to the social circumstances and the appropriate functional style, one’s approval or disapproval of the object spoken of, the speaker’s emotions, the degree of intensity; unlike denotations or significations, connotations are optional.
Types of Connotations
Stylistic connotation is concerned with the situation in which the word is uttered, the social circumstances (formal, familiar), the social relationships between the communicants (polite, rough etc.), the type and purpose of communication, e.g. father (stylistically neutr.), dad (colloquial), parent (bookish).
Emotional connotation is acquired by the word as a result of its frequent use in contexts corresponding to emotional situations or because the referent conceptualised in the denotative meaning is associated with certain emotions, e.g. mother (emotionally neutr.), mummy (emotionally charged); bright (emotionally neutr.), garish (implies negative emotions).
Evaluative connotation expresses approval or disapproval, e.g. modern is often used appreciatively, newfangled expresses disapproval.
Intensifying connotation expresses degree of intensity, e.g. the words magnificent, gorgeous, splendid, superb are used colloquially as terms of exaggeration.
23. The nature and causes of semantic change. Types of semantic change.
Semantic change is the process of development of a new meaning or any other change of meaning.
Dostları ilə paylaş: |
