Table Of Contentstudies in functional and structural linguistics 73
Semantic
Structure
in English
Jim Feist
John Benjamins Publishing Company
Semantic Structure in English
Studies in Functional and Structural Linguistics (SFSL)
issn 1385-7916
Taking the broadest and most general definitions of the terms functional and structural,
this series aims to present linguistic and interdisciplinary research that relates language
structure – at any level of analysis from phonology to discourse – to broader functional
considerations, whether cognitive, communicative, pragmatic or sociocultural. Preference
will be given to studies that focus on data from actual discourse, whether speech, writing
or other nonvocal medium.
The series was formerly known as Linguistic & Literary Studies in Eastern Europe (LLSEE).
For an overview of all books published in this series, please see
https://benjamins.com/catalog/sfsl
Founding Editor Honorary Editors
John Odmark Eva Hajičová Petr Sgall
Charles University Charles University
General Editors
Yishai Tobin Bob de Jonge
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Groningen University
Editorial Board
Alexandra Y. Aikhenvald James A. Matisoff
La Trobe University University of California, Berkeley
Joan L. Bybee Jim Miller
University of New Mexico Emeritus, University of Edinburgh
Ellen Contini-Morava Marianne Mithun
University of Virginia University of California, at Santa Barbara
Nicholas Evans Lawrence J. Raphael
University of Melbourne CUNY and Adelphi University
Victor A. Friedman Olga Mišeska Tomić
University of Chicago Leiden University
Anatoly Liberman Olga T. Yokoyama
University of Minnesota UCLA
Volume 73
Semantic Structure in English
by Jim Feist
Semantic Structure
in English
Jim Feist
Petr Sgall
Charles University
John Benjamins Publishing Company
Amsterdam / Philadelphia
TM The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of
8
the American National Standard for Information Sciences – Permanence
of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ansi z39.48-1984.
doi 10.1075/sfsl.73
Cataloging-in-Publication Data available from Library of Congress
isbn 978 90 272 1583 3 (Hb)
isbn 978 90 272 6652 1 (e-book)
© 2016 – John Benjamins B.V.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by print, photoprint, microfilm, or any
other means, without written permission from the publisher.
John Benjamins Publishing Company · https://benjamins.com
Table of contents
Chapter 1
Introduction 1
1.1 Goals of the book 1
1.2 Approach 1
1.3 Argument of the book 2
1.4 Plan of the book 5
Chapter 2
Semantic structures in the strata of English 7
2.1 Introduction 7
2.2 Semantic structure in lexis 7
2.2.1 Paradigmatic lexical relations 7
2.2.2 Syntagmatic lexical relations 8
2.2.3 Words without paradigmatic or syntagmatic relations 9
2.3 Semantic structure in morphology 9
2.3.1 Semantic classes 9
2.3.2 Grammatical meaning 10
2.3.3 Dependency and modification 10
2.4 Semantic structure in syntax 10
2.4.1 Semantic structure of clauses: The figure 10
2.4.2 Semantic structure in groups 13
2.5 Semantic structure in phonology 14
2.5.1 Introduction 14
2.5.2 Semantics of tonality 14
2.5.3 Semantics of tone 15
2.5.4 Semantics of tonicity 16
2.5.5 Semantics of rhythm 17
2.5.6 Semantic structure in phonetics 18
2.5.7 Discussion: Semantic structure in phonology 19
2.5.8 Conclusion: Semantics in the phonological stratum 21
2.6 Conclusion: Semantic structure in the strata of English 22
vi Semantic Structure in English
Chapter 3
Basis of semantic structure 25
3.1 Introduction 25
3.2 The intention to speak 25
3.2.1 Main intention 25
3.2.2 Subordinate intentions 26
3.2.3 Discussion 27
3.2.4 Conclusion 27
3.3 Functions, as the formulation of intention 28
3.3.1 Introduction 28
3.3.2 Expressive function 28
3.3.3 Interpersonal function 30
3.3.4 Ideational function 31
3.3.5 Conclusion 31
3.4 Constraints on meaning 32
3.4.1 Introduction 32
3.4.2 Linguistic constraints 32
3.4.3 Semiotic constraints 33
3.5 Conclusion: Basis of semantic structure 37
Chapter 4
Elements of semantic structure 39
4.1 Introduction 39
4.2 Preliminaries 39
4.2.1 Areas of meaning: Cognitive and linguistic meaning 39
4.2.2 Aspects of meaning 42
4.3 Dimensions of linguistic meaning 43
4.3.1 Introduction 43
4.3.2 Quality dimension 43
4.3.3 Intensity dimension 43
4.3.4 Specificity dimension 44
4.3.5 Vagueness dimension 44
4.3.6 Basicness dimension 45
4.3.7 Viewpoint dimension 45
4.3.8 Boundedness dimension 45
4.3.9 Expectedness dimension 46
4.3.10 Salience dimension 47
4.4 Content meaning 47
4.4.1 Introduction 47
4.4.2 Descriptive meaning 49
4.4.3 Affective meaning 52
4.4.4 Attitudinal meaning 56
4.4.5 Social meaning 58
4.4.6 Conclusion: Types of content meaning 59
Table of contents vii
4.5 Grammatical meaning 61
4.5.1 Introduction 61
4.5.2 Types of grammatical meaning 64
4.5.3 Dimensions of grammatical meaning 65
4.5.4 Discussion 66
4.5.5 Conclusion: Grammatical meaning 67
4.6 Semantic classes 68
4.6.1 Introduction 68
4.6.2 Basic classes 69
4.6.3 Discussion: Semantic classes 71
4.6.4 Conclusion: Semantic classes 72
4.7 Uses of meaning 72
4.7.1 Introduction 72
4.7.2 Marked use 73
4.7.3 Defining and descriptive uses 73
4.7.4 Literal and figurative uses 76
4.8 Discussion: Elements of semantic structure 77
4.9 Conclusion: Elements of semantic structure 77
Chapter 5
Network structure 79
5.1 Introduction 79
5.1.1 General introduction 79
5.1.2 Introduction to networks 80
5.2 Structure within a word’s meaning 80
5.2.1 Introduction 80
5.2.2 Word senses as a structure of meaning types 82
5.2.3 Structure within descriptive senses 87
5.2.4 Structure within non-descriptive senses 92
5.2.5 Discussion: Compositionality of sense structure 93
5.3 Structure among word senses 95
5.3.1 Introduction 95
5.3.2 Sense relations: Synonymy 96
5.3.3 Other sense relations 98
5.3.4 Variation in sense structure 99
5.3.5 Conclusion: Structure among word senses 107
5.4 Structure of sublexical meaning 108
5.4.1 Introduction 108
5.4.2 Dimensions 109
5.4.3 Elements and their sublexical relations 110
5.4.4 Elements’ external relations 112
5.4.5 Discussion: Structure of sublexical meanings 113
5.4.6 Conclusion: Structure of sublexical meaning 115
viii Semantic Structure in English
5.5 Networks in other strata 116
5.5.1 Networks in clause syntax 116
5.5.2 Networks in group syntax 118
5.5.3 Lexical network: Cohesion 119
5.6 Discussion: Network structures in English 120
5.6.1 Whole utterances as networks 120
5.6.2 Networks in imaginative English 121
5.6.3 Relations among one word’s various senses: Polysemy 121
5.7 Conclusion: Network structures in English 123
Chapter 6
System structure 125
6.1 Introduction 125
6.1.1 General introduction 125
6.1.2 Introduction to system structure 126
6.2 System processes 127
6.2.1 Introduction: Grammatical meanings 127
6.2.2 Preliminary process: Obtaining content for the main procedure 128
6.2.3 Processes applying within words and groups 129
6.2.4 Processes applying within figures and figure complexes:
Complementation 134
6.2.5 Processes applying to a whole figure 135
6.2.6 Discussion: System processes 137
6.2.7 Conclusion: Grammatical meaning 138
6.3 System procedures: Using the processes 138
6.3.1 Introduction 138
6.3.2 Constructing hierarchic structures 139
6.3.3 Constructing network structures in morphosyntax 140
6.4 Discussion: System structure 140
6.4.1 Details not yet explained 140
6.4.2 Signs used for grammatical meaning 141
6.4.3 Grammatical meanings in figurative and other uses 141
6.4.4 Grammatical meaning as backgrounded meaning 142
6.4.5 Other views of grammatical meaning 143
6.5 Conclusion: System structure 144
Chapter 7
Hierarchic structure (1): Figures 147
7.1 Introduction 147
7.1.1 Introduction to hierarchies in semantics 147
7.1.2 Introduction to figures 148
Table of contents ix
7.2 Figure structures 149
7.2.1 Introduction: Processes 149
7.2.2 Material-Process structure 150
7.2.3 Mental-Process structures 151
7.2.4 Relational-Process structures 152
7.2.5 Discussion: Figure structures 153
7.2.6 Conclusion: Summary of figure structures 154
7.3 Processes 155
7.3.1 Introduction: Processes 155
7.3.2 Internal structure of Processes 155
7.3.3 Syntagmatic structure of Processes 156
7.3.4 Semantic class: Process 158
7.3.5 Conclusion: Summary of Processes 159
7.4 Participants 159
7.4.1 Introduction 159
7.4.2 Internal structure 160
7.4.3 Syntagmatic structure 160
7.4.4 Participant as semantic class 161
7.4.5 Discussion: Participant roles and “semantic roles” 161
7.4.6 Conclusion: Summary of Participants 162
7.5 Circumstances 162
7.5.1 Introduction 162
7.5.2 Internal structure of Circumstances 163
7.5.3 Syntagmatic structure of Circumstances 164
7.5.4 Semantic class of Circumstances 166
7.5.5 Discussion: Circumstances 166
7.5.6 Conclusion: Summary of Circumstances 168
7.6 Relations among Participant, Process and Circumstance 168
7.7 Structures larger than the figure 169
7.8 Discussion: Figures 170
7.8.1 Co-ordination and linearity 170
7.8.2 Constructions 171
7.8.3 Ergativity 172
7.8.4 Compositionality in figures 174
7.9 Conclusion: Figures 175
Chapter 8
Hierarchies (2): Groups and senses 177
8.1 Introduction 177
8.1.1 General introduction 177
8.1.2 Introduction to groups 177
