Language and Semantics Flashcard

Front

What is ambiguity in language?

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Ambiguity occurs when a sentence or phrase can be interpreted in multiple ways, leading to confusion about its meaning.

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What is a homophone?

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A homophone is a word that sounds the same as another word but has a different meaning and often a different spelling.

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What does implicature mean in semantics?

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Implicature refers to what is suggested in an utterance, even though neither expressed nor explicitly implied.

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What is an illocutionary act?

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An illocutionary act is the intended meaning behind a statement, which may differ from its literal meaning.

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What is the difference between analytic and synthetic sentences?

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Analytic sentences are true by virtue of their meaning (e.g., 'All bachelors are unmarried'), while synthetic sentences require external verification (e.g., 'My sister is married to a bachelor').

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What is a contradictory sentence?

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A contradictory sentence is one that contains conflicting statements, making it impossible to be true (e.g., 'It is raining and it is not raining at the same time').

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What is the role of context in understanding semantics?

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Context provides the background information necessary to interpret the meaning of words and sentences accurately.

Front

What is a semantic field?

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A semantic field is a set of words grouped by meaning referring to a specific subject.

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What is the significance of context in determining meaning?

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Context helps clarify the intended meaning of words and phrases, especially in cases of ambiguity.

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What is a presupposition in language?

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A presupposition is an assumption that must be true for a statement to make sense.