🥸intro to psychology review

key term - Semantics

Definition

Semantics is the study of meaning in language. It explores how words, phrases, and sentences convey meaning and how that meaning is interpreted and understood by language users.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

  1. Semantics is concerned with the meaning of language, rather than its form or structure.
  2. The meaning of a word can be influenced by its context, including the words that surround it and the situation in which it is used.
  3. Semantics can be divided into different subfields, such as lexical semantics, which focuses on the meanings of individual words, and compositional semantics, which examines how the meanings of individual words combine to create the meaning of a larger linguistic unit.
  4. Semantic ambiguity occurs when a word, phrase, or sentence can have more than one possible meaning, which can lead to confusion or misunderstanding.
  5. Semantics is closely related to the study of language acquisition, as children must learn the meanings of words and how to use them appropriately in order to communicate effectively.

Review Questions

  • Explain how semantics is related to the study of language in the context of 7.2 Language in the Intro to Psychology Study Guide 2024 | Fiveable.
    • Semantics is a crucial aspect of the study of language, as it examines how meaning is conveyed through the use of words, phrases, and sentences. In the context of 7.2 Language, understanding semantics is important for comprehending how individuals acquire and use language to communicate effectively. Semantics explores the relationship between the form of language (syntax) and its underlying meaning, as well as how contextual factors can influence the interpretation of linguistic expressions.
  • Describe how semantic ambiguity can impact the study of language and communication in the context of 7.2 Language in the Intro to Psychology Study Guide 2024 | Fiveable.
    • Semantic ambiguity, where a word, phrase, or sentence can have more than one possible meaning, can significantly impact the study of language and communication. In the context of 7.2 Language, semantic ambiguity can lead to misunderstandings, breakdowns in communication, and challenges in language acquisition and usage. Researchers in this field must consider how semantic ambiguity can influence the way individuals interpret and respond to linguistic expressions, and how it may contribute to difficulties in language processing and comprehension.
  • Analyze the relationship between semantics and the other key aspects of language, such as syntax and pragmatics, in the context of 7.2 Language in the Intro to Psychology Study Guide 2024 | Fiveable.
    • Semantics, the study of meaning in language, is closely intertwined with other key aspects of language, such as syntax and pragmatics, in the context of 7.2 Language. Syntax, the grammatical structure of language, determines how words are combined to form meaningful expressions, while pragmatics examines how language is used in specific contexts and how that context influences meaning. Semantics, in turn, explores how the meanings of individual words and their combinations contribute to the overall meaning of a linguistic expression. Understanding the relationships between these different components of language is crucial for effectively studying and comprehending how individuals acquire, process, and use language to communicate in various contexts.