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4. Two levels of analysis
When analysing the semantic structure of a polysemantic word, it is necessary to distinguish between two levels of analysis.
a) On the first level, the semantic structure of a word is treated as a system of meanings. For example, the semantic structure of the noun fire could be presented as following (see also the scheme p.133):
II An instance of destructive burning: a forest fire.
Fire, n → I Flame → III Burning material in a fireplace: A camp fire.
IV The shooting of guns, etc: to open (cease) fire.
V Strong feeling, passion: a speech lacking fire.
The above suggests that meaning I (flame) holds a kind of dominance over the other meanings conveying the concept in the most general way whereas meanings II – V are associated with special circumstances.
Meaning I (generally referred to as the main meaning) presents the centre of the semantic structure of the word holding it together. It is mainly through meaning I that meanings II – V (they are called secondary meanings) can be associated with one another.
b) Yet, it is not in every polysemantic word that such a centre can be found. Some semantic structures are arranged on a different principle. In the following list of meanings of the adjectve dull one can hardly find a generalized meaning covering and holding together the rest of the semantic structure (see also p. 134):
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