Semantic features

Definition

Semantic features are the basic components of meaning that help distinguish one word from another within a language. They play a crucial role in lexical semantics by breaking down the meanings of words into smaller, more manageable units, which can include aspects like animacy, number, gender, and other characteristics that convey meaning.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Semantic features help to clarify the meanings of words by highlighting specific characteristics that differentiate them from other words.
2. They can be positive or negative attributes; for example, 'animate' vs. 'inanimate' serves as a semantic feature that differentiates living things from non-living things.
3. In componential analysis, semantic features are often used to create a feature matrix that outlines the shared and differing aspects of word meanings.
4. Understanding semantic features is important for disambiguating words that may have multiple meanings based on context.
5. Semantic features contribute to how we understand synonyms and antonyms by mapping out the similarities and differences in meaning.

Review Questions

• How do semantic features aid in differentiating between words with similar meanings?
  • Semantic features provide a detailed breakdown of the specific characteristics associated with each word, helping to clarify their distinct meanings. For example, two words like 'dog' and 'cat' may both refer to animals, but their semantic features reveal differences in behavior, habitat, and domestication status. This allows speakers to choose the most appropriate word based on the context and nuances they wish to convey.
• Discuss how componential analysis utilizes semantic features to understand word meanings.
  • Componential analysis employs semantic features as building blocks to systematically dissect and compare word meanings. By identifying a set of relevant features—such as animacy, size, and color—analysts can create a framework that shows how different words relate to each other. This method highlights both shared characteristics among synonyms and contrasting features among antonyms, providing insights into the structure of language.
• Evaluate the importance of semantic features in understanding language ambiguity and polysemy.
  • Semantic features play a critical role in addressing language ambiguity and polysemy by providing the tools needed to discern different meanings based on context. For instance, the word 'bank' can refer to a financial institution or the side of a river; analyzing its semantic features allows us to determine which meaning is intended. This evaluation helps to improve comprehension and communication in language use, emphasizing how context influences meaning and illustrating the complex nature of semantics.

Related terms

lexical semantics: The branch of linguistics that studies the meaning of words and their relationships within a language.

componential analysis: A method used in semantics to analyze the meaning of words by identifying their semantic features and how these features combine to create meanings.

ontological categories: Classes or groups that describe the fundamental kinds of entities in the world, which can be used to organize semantic features.