synonyms are words sufficiently alike
in general signification to be liable
to be confounded, but yet so different
in special definition as to require to be distinguished.
George P. Marsh
Unlike synonymy (where there is doubt about
whether true synonyms exist at all),
antonymy very definitelty exists
and, moreover, exists in several forms.
David Crystal
The vocabulary of a language is not just a collection of words but a system of elements interrelated in different ways. This system is called lexical or lexico-semantic system.
The meaning of a word is to a great extent determined by its place in a lexical system, by its relations with other words. The 2 main types of relations between vocabulary units are: syntagmatic and paradigmatic.
Different types of lexico-semantic paradigms are distinguished:
semantic fields;
synonymic sets;
antonymic pairs.
Semantic field is a grouping of words based on the connection of the notions underlying their meanings (g reen, red, white, blue, etc. are joined together by the common semantic component that the concept of colours). This semantic component common to all members of the field is sometimes described as the common denominator of meaning.
Lexical (conceptual) fields may be very extensive and cover big conceptual areas, e.g. space, matter, intellect, etc. Words making up such semantic fields may belong to different parts of speech.
There may be comparatively small lexical groups of words belonging to the same part of speech and linked by a common concept. Such smaller lexical groups consisting of words of the same part of speech are termed lexico-semantic groups or lexical sets (e.g. adjectives denoting mental characteristics: clever, witty, foolish, stupid, sagacious, etc.).
Synonyms are words of the same part of speech, possessing identical or nearly identical meanings, interchangeable at least in some contexts without any considerable alteration identical meaning but different in form, connotation and style.
Synonyms are usually arranged into synonymic groups or sets.
Few words are identical in meaning they are termed complete or absolute synonyms.
Two words denoting the same thing, having the same denotative meaning, but differing in stylistic connotation are known as stylistic synonyms (begin commence).
Synonyms that differ in additional implications which constitute the semantic components of the denotational meaning are known as ideographic synonyms (fast, rapid, fleety, swift, speedy, hasty, expeditious).
In every group of ideographic and stylistic synonyms we can find the so-called synonymic dominant which usually expresses the most general shade of meaning.
There is a special group of stylistic synonyms called euphemisms. These are synonyms substitute for words which are considered vulgar, indecent or rude.
Antonyms are lexemes which are opposite in meaning. There exists several forms of antonymy.
gradable antonyms (narrow wide, short long, cheap expensive)
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complementary antonyms (true false, alive dead, open shut)
converse terms or relational opposites (borrow lend, buy sell).
Words may be related to each other in the generality of their reference. Cutlery is a more general way of referring to the more specific knives, forks and spoons. This sense relation is called hyponymy: knife, fork, spoon are hyponyms of cutlery.
Homonyms
Words identical in sound form and spelling but different in meaning are termed homonymous.
Homonyms may also be classified by the type of meaning into:
lexical;
lexico-grammatical;
grammatical forms.
Homonyms may be classified into homographs, homophones and perfect homonyms.
Homographs are words identical in spelling but different in sound and meaning (read [ri:d] vs read [red]).
Homophones are words identical in sound but different in spelling and meaning (flower vs flour).
Perfect homonyms are words identical both in sound and spelling but only different in meaning (bat 1) a specially shaped stick for hitting the ball in cricket etc; 2) a flying mouselike animal).
Sources of homonyms:
borrowing;
phonetic change;
disintegration of polysemy.
