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【Abstract】The semantic field emphasizes that there is a close relationship between a word and all the words in semantics. Only by comparing and analyzing the semantic relations between words and words can we determine the real meaning of them. This paper will analysis the semantic field theory in our English learning from three parts: semantic field theory; synonym; antonymy.
【Key words】semantic field; synonymy; antonymy
I. The Semantic Field Theory
The study of lexical meaning is often isolated from the traditional semantics, but actually the semantic field is the concrete manifestation of the lexical meaning. The semantic field has provided rich and comprehensive language knowledge for us. The word as the language of the semantic units does not exist alone, which means the meaning of every word or subject and the semantic relations with other words depend on their “partnership”. Saussure said: “in the same language, all the words that express similar concepts are limited. Therefore, the value of any element is determined by the factors that surround it.” Some words represent the genus, and some of the words represent the species. As “animal” is the general concept of the word, but “monkey”, “dog”, “duck”, “cat” represent individual conception of the word. The word like “animal” is called control word or superordinate, “sheep” and other words like them called subordinate words or hyponym. Trough the semantic field we can have a better knowing about the relation between words, and employ them in our English learning.
II. Synonymy
Words can be combined together with the logical concept of the consent of the expression, which is called synonymy. Synonyms have the same meaning, but different in the shape of structure, shape and usage of phonemes. Polysemy in English is a common phenomenon, so one or a group of synonyms are not immutable and frozen. We can use one word in different passage or conversation. The semantic field which is restricted by the semantically synonymous field called the semantically synonym field. The difference between one semantic field and the other is that the meaning of each word is different in semantic field, but the word’s meaning is basically same. If we use the concept of “leave” as the dominant synonym, “quit”, “retire” and other words can constitute synonym groups. So we can memory different synonyms and use them in our writing or speaking to improve ourselves. Although synonyms are used to express the same concept, there are subtle differences in meaning. We should use them in a suitable place and take advantages of its flexible to express our meaning better. Synonyms that differ in meaning are called ideographic synonyms, or relative synonyms. The two words “amaze” and “astound” have same denotation, but the former refers to the “difficulty of belief”, and the latter means “extreme difficulty of belief”. And there are also differences in the emotional color of synonyms. As these two words “statesman” and “politician” have the same meaning, but the latter is often used in a derogatory sense. Learning the difference of the synonyms can let us use them accurately and have a deep understanding in our English learning. III. Antonymy
There is the opposite and reverse relation between words, which is called antonymy. Linguists from different angles explore the antonym relations between words, and divide antonyms according to the different standard. First, antonyms composed by different roots are called root antonyms, such as “large - small”, and “up - down”. Through derivation, antonyms constituted by affixes are called derivative antonyms, such as “pleasant - unpleasant”. Knowing the prefix and affix can help us memory more words easily to improve our English level. Secondly, basing on the semantic contrast to the modern standard can be divided into the following three kinds. The first is the contraries, which refers to the semantic relative, forming the poles, such as “old - young”. The second one is complementaries which refer to that the denial of one means the assertion of the other or vice versa, such as “boy - girl”. The third is the conversives, and it refers to two words not only having opposite relationship in semantics, but having the interdependent relationship. One member of the pair presupposes the other member, such as “buy - sell”. There are perplexing links between the words, but this cannot be connected out of order, but the rules can be found to be helpful when we learn English words.
IV. Conclusion
From the semantic field, we can understand and master the various relations between the words, and grasp the systematic nature of the vocabulary from the macro level, so as to have a better understand the micro world of the word, and finally improve our English learning.
References：
[1]汪榕培.英語词汇学高级教程[M].上海外语教育出版社,2002.
【Key words】semantic field; synonymy; antonymy
I. The Semantic Field Theory
The study of lexical meaning is often isolated from the traditional semantics, but actually the semantic field is the concrete manifestation of the lexical meaning. The semantic field has provided rich and comprehensive language knowledge for us. The word as the language of the semantic units does not exist alone, which means the meaning of every word or subject and the semantic relations with other words depend on their “partnership”. Saussure said: “in the same language, all the words that express similar concepts are limited. Therefore, the value of any element is determined by the factors that surround it.” Some words represent the genus, and some of the words represent the species. As “animal” is the general concept of the word, but “monkey”, “dog”, “duck”, “cat” represent individual conception of the word. The word like “animal” is called control word or superordinate, “sheep” and other words like them called subordinate words or hyponym. Trough the semantic field we can have a better knowing about the relation between words, and employ them in our English learning.
II. Synonymy
Words can be combined together with the logical concept of the consent of the expression, which is called synonymy. Synonyms have the same meaning, but different in the shape of structure, shape and usage of phonemes. Polysemy in English is a common phenomenon, so one or a group of synonyms are not immutable and frozen. We can use one word in different passage or conversation. The semantic field which is restricted by the semantically synonymous field called the semantically synonym field. The difference between one semantic field and the other is that the meaning of each word is different in semantic field, but the word’s meaning is basically same. If we use the concept of “leave” as the dominant synonym, “quit”, “retire” and other words can constitute synonym groups. So we can memory different synonyms and use them in our writing or speaking to improve ourselves. Although synonyms are used to express the same concept, there are subtle differences in meaning. We should use them in a suitable place and take advantages of its flexible to express our meaning better. Synonyms that differ in meaning are called ideographic synonyms, or relative synonyms. The two words “amaze” and “astound” have same denotation, but the former refers to the “difficulty of belief”, and the latter means “extreme difficulty of belief”. And there are also differences in the emotional color of synonyms. As these two words “statesman” and “politician” have the same meaning, but the latter is often used in a derogatory sense. Learning the difference of the synonyms can let us use them accurately and have a deep understanding in our English learning. III. Antonymy
There is the opposite and reverse relation between words, which is called antonymy. Linguists from different angles explore the antonym relations between words, and divide antonyms according to the different standard. First, antonyms composed by different roots are called root antonyms, such as “large - small”, and “up - down”. Through derivation, antonyms constituted by affixes are called derivative antonyms, such as “pleasant - unpleasant”. Knowing the prefix and affix can help us memory more words easily to improve our English level. Secondly, basing on the semantic contrast to the modern standard can be divided into the following three kinds. The first is the contraries, which refers to the semantic relative, forming the poles, such as “old - young”. The second one is complementaries which refer to that the denial of one means the assertion of the other or vice versa, such as “boy - girl”. The third is the conversives, and it refers to two words not only having opposite relationship in semantics, but having the interdependent relationship. One member of the pair presupposes the other member, such as “buy - sell”. There are perplexing links between the words, but this cannot be connected out of order, but the rules can be found to be helpful when we learn English words.
IV. Conclusion
From the semantic field, we can understand and master the various relations between the words, and grasp the systematic nature of the vocabulary from the macro level, so as to have a better understand the micro world of the word, and finally improve our English learning.
References：
[1]汪榕培.英語词汇学高级教程[M].上海外语教育出版社,2002.