Discuss an aspect of linguistics that has recently made news headlines, either with reference to English or your own local language(s). What are the issues involved? How could linguistic research inform the debate?

Currently, linguistics has become increasingly popular science around the world. Studying linguistics may be useful for all students who study in academic areas especially students in English, psychology, education and sociology. According to Sinha (2005),it can be defined as “a scientific study of language”. This definition is still the most popular and satisfactory one among other. Chomsky and Lakoff both think that linguistics concerns itself with mind to a great deal and it is empirical science (Harries, 1993). In terms of semantics, it can be defined as a study of language meaning (Gorman, 1962). It is a wide subject within the general study of language. An Understanding of semantics is essential to study a language. Semantics encompasses many areas such as synonymy, polysemy, antonymy and so on (Murphy, 2003). Many expressions and lexemes are listed in ordinary or specialised dictionaries as synonymous. This paper will attempt to look at synonymy and outline some issues of it.

First of all,what exactly is synonymy? There would seem to be different kinds of it as well as different degree. It is difficult to find a typical definition of synonymy on which all linguists would agree (Schubert, 2001).In fact, there are two different opinions of defining it. On one hand, many linguists claim that there is no total synonymy at all and on the other hand another groupof linguists believe that there is a kind of synonymy but it occurs only rarely. Wang and Hirst (2011) claim that Synonymyis one of lexical semantic relations (LSRs), which are relations between words and meanings. By definition, synonymous is “one of two or more words or expressions of the same language that have the same or nearly the same meaning in some or all senses”. According to Lorenz (2004), in general,it can be defined as sameness of meaning. For instance, “The Baytown Blades strike first with big goal, Will they take a large lead?” Buzz asks. “Or will the Midville Mighty Puck make a huge comeback in the second period?” (Prokos, 2008). The three words big, huge and large have the same meaning. It is well known that the term “meaning” is polysemous, so there are few different types of synonymous. Lyon differentiates three major classes of synonymy which are absolute synonymy, complete synonymy and incomplete synonymy or partial or near synonymy (Lorenz, 2004). In short, synonymous can be a word has the same or near meaning.

Furthermore, in accordance with Lorenz (2004), absolute synonyms should fulfil certain conditions in order to be absolute one. The first condition is that all their meaning have to be identical to be absolute synonyms. The second condition is that they should be synonymous in all texts. The final condition is that absolute synonymous itemshaveto besemantically equivalent in all dimensions of meanings. In addition, all linguists who work in the linguistics field claim that this type of synonymy is seldom appeared in English language. Take the two following examples as absolute synonyms: settee which means sofa and pullover that is sweater. Another example of absolute synonymy is the two words smoke and fume in the following two sentences are exactly the same meaning: I am going to smoke cigarette and I am going to fume cigarette (Vomend, 2004).According to Partington (1998),the second kind of synonymy is called complete synonymy. This type is that synonymous has the same meaning in certain range of contexts as well as has a descriptive, expressive meaning. Absolute synonymous probably has the identical meaning in all contexts.

Thirdly, synonymy relies on our knowledge about words. According to Lorenz (2004), the third type of synonymy is called incomplete or partial or near synonymy. In cases of partial synonymy those representatives largely agree with other group of linguists who deny the total sameness of meaning of expressions and lexemes in English language. According to Ciobanu, Paun and Perez (2006), near synonymous might be defined lexeme or expression is more or less similar in meaning, but not identical as in absolute synonymy. Near synonymy differs from absolute synonymy for various reasons, it fails to meet the three conditions of absolute synonymy. Take these words as near synonymy in English language, “mist” and “fog”, “stream” and “brook”, “dive” and “plunge”. So, we need to take into account that these are usually partial synonymous, that is, pairs of lexemes have the same meaning but they belong to different registers, styles, regions even to historical periods. In brief, near synonymous is that item has near meaning.

However, some linguists disagree on the existence of absolute synonymy and they deny it. According to Stanojevic (2009), it is impossible that a language to have absolute synonymous items that have the precise and exact meaning. The reasons are that one the pair or group could become redundant and unnecessary. Consequently, it would be abandoned or dropped. The second reason is that their interchangeability has not proved and showed in all contexts. The existence of what is called absolute synonymy is controversial.

In conclusion, this essay has provided an illustration of synonymy which is the identity of meaning and outlines types of it and some issues.It would seem there are numerous different definitions of synonymy.It may be defined as identity of meaning. In terms of synonymous, it is one of pair or group that have same or near meaning in a language. In addition, they are classified into three types: absolute synonymous, complete synonymous and partial or near or incomplete synonymous, depending on the degree of sameness of meaning. Furthermore, absolute one is that synonymous itsmeaning is identical. While, near synonymous wordsare less or more in meaning. However, the existence of absolute synonymy is controversial. It is worth to study this phenomenon which enrich and improve the language of people.

References

  • Ciobanu, G. Paun, G. and Perez, M. (2006). Application of membrane computing. Retrieved from
  • Gorman, M. (1962). Semantics and contemporary Thomism. Retrieved from
  • Harries, R. (1993). The linguistics wars. Retrieved from
  • Lorenz, V. (2004). Corpus-based analysis of partial synonyms “oppress, repress” with regard to contextual usage. Retrieved from
  • Murphy, M. (2003). Semantics relations and the lexicons. Retrieved from
  • Partington, A. (1998). Patterns and meanings. Retrieved from
  • Schubert, J. (2001). Do we find absolute synonymy in the English language? Retrieved from
  • Sinha, M. (2005). Modern linguistics. Retrieved from
  • Stanojevic , M. (2009). Cognitive synonymy: A general overview. Linguistics and literature. 7 (2). Retrieved from facta.junis.ni.ac.rs/lal/lal200902/lal200902-05.pdf
  • Vomend, K. (2004). Synonymy. Retrieved from
  • Wang, T. & Hirst, G. (2011). Exploring patterns in dictionary definitions of synonyms extraction. Retrieved from Toronto University ftp://ftp.cs.toronto.edu/pub/gh/Wang+Hirst-NLE-2011.pdf

1