Sense

Definition

In lexical semantics, 'sense' refers to the meaning or interpretation of a word or expression, distinguishing it from its reference or the actual object it points to. Understanding sense involves grasping the nuances of meaning, including connotations, implications, and the relationships between different words, as they contribute to our comprehension of language and communication.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Sense is crucial for understanding how words can have different meanings depending on context, such as 'bank' meaning a financial institution or the side of a river.
2. The study of sense helps linguists analyze how language reflects cultural and social meanings through various word interpretations.
3. Different senses of a word can exist simultaneously, illustrating how language is dynamic and context-dependent.
4. Semantic features, like denotation and connotation, play a role in determining a word's sense by influencing its meaning in various contexts.
5. The distinction between sense and reference highlights that while two expressions can refer to the same entity, their meanings can differ significantly.

Review Questions

• How does understanding the concept of sense enhance our interpretation of language?
  • Understanding the concept of sense enhances our interpretation of language by allowing us to recognize that words do not have fixed meanings but can vary based on context. This flexibility in meaning helps us appreciate nuances and subtleties in communication, which can change our perception of what is being conveyed. For instance, recognizing the different senses of 'light' as both brightness and weight enables clearer communication and interpretation.
• What role does polysemy play in the concept of sense, and how does it affect language usage?
  • Polysemy plays a significant role in the concept of sense because it illustrates how a single word can carry multiple meanings that are related. This affects language usage by allowing speakers to choose words with specific senses that best fit their intended meaning within a particular context. For example, when using the word 'seal,' one might refer to an animal or a means to secure something, depending on the conversational setting, thereby enriching language with layers of meaning.
• Evaluate how the distinction between sense and reference impacts semantic analysis in linguistics.
  • The distinction between sense and reference profoundly impacts semantic analysis in linguistics by shaping our understanding of how language functions. While reference deals with the real-world entities that words denote, sense delves into the meaning behind those words and how they relate to each other. This duality helps linguists analyze not only what words signify but also how they convey different meanings based on context. Such analysis reveals the complexity of human communication, demonstrating that effective language use requires an appreciation for both the specific references made and the broader meanings implied.

Related terms

reference: Reference is the relationship between a linguistic expression and the actual entities or objects it denotes in the world.

polysemy: Polysemy refers to a single word having multiple related meanings or senses, often dependent on context.

synonymy:

Synonymy is the relationship between words that have similar meanings or senses, allowing for nuanced expression in language.