Semantics and lexicology assignment topic synonymy in poetry

HANOI METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES SEMANTICS AND LEXICOLOGY ASSIGNMENT Topic: Synonymy in poetry Student’s name : Đào Thị Toan Student’s code : 219601050 Class : NNA D2019A Hanoi, December 2021 HANOI METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES SEMANTICS AND LEXICOLOGY ASSIGNMENT Topic: Synonymy in poetry Student’s name : Đào Thị Toan Student’s code : 219601050 Class : NNA D2019A Giám khảo Giám Khảo Nguyễn Thị Ánh Nguyệt Vương Hải Yến Hanoi, December 2021 ACKNOLEDGEMENT First of all, I am most grateful to my Semantics and Lexicology teacher- Ms Nguyễn Thị Ánh Nguyệt who gave me a precious opportunity to work on this project I would like to express my sincere thanks and gratitude to her for supporting all the time and providing valuable information that related to my subject She helps me understand almost data with exemplary guidance although this subject is quite difficult and abstract for a lots of language knowledge features Moreover, I really appreciate the advice that she gave to improve and enhance my presentation skill I am really fortunate that, I had kind classmates and teammates as well as third-years students in Faculty of foreign languages of Hanoi Metropolitan University They encouraged me constantly when we did at work together Without their help, completing this subject would have been very hard Moreover, they are my important motivation in mental life since they always make me happy Finally, I would like to mention that my parents have been very supportive and generous throughout my life Without them, I could never had completed this task Thanks a lot TABLE OF CONTENTS I INTRODUCTION II BODY 1 A brief overview of synonymy a, Definition of synonymy b, Classification Synonymy in poetry III CONCLUSION I INTRODUCTION The similarity is the common definition in our life that appears almost area such as art, appearance, personality Especially, Synonymy is a phenomenon of similarity in the scientific of language “Most synonimes have some minute distinction that deserves notice” (Thomas Reid, 1785, as quote in the Oxford English Dictionary) Synonymy is always attractive semantic factor that people would like to discover and exploit Semantics is traditionally defined as the study of meaning Semantics is also defined as the systematic study of meaning As a theory of meaning and a branch of modern linguistics, semantics is not only of interest to linguistics but to psychologists and philosophers This essay will give necessary data about synonymy that include in argumentative definitions, classification Moreover, it shows up some specific instances in reality and literature which prove synonymy has an important effect on human civilization Furthermore, I will concentrate on synonymy in poetry II BODY A brief overview of synonymy a, Definition of synonymy - In terms of origin of the word Synonymy, it comes from Ancient Greek ẽẽã ẻẵ ("syn") word-forming element meaning "together with, jointly; alike; at the same time," also sometimes completive or intensive, from Greek syn (prep.) "with, together with, along with, in the company of," In addition, Syn combine with ẻẵẻẻẳẻ ("onoma") "no-en is root meaning of “name” “Synonymy” represent for having the same sense as another - Defining Synonymy is abstract process According Maja (2009) has argued that in terms of giving a clear, specific and accurate definition of synonymy, many dificulties arise There are many approaches with many definitions of synonymy and forms of synonyms due to the fact there are special methods wherein synonyms might additionally differ Maja, (2009) has described synonymy as the phenomenon of two or more different linguistic forms with the equal value of meaning Those linguistic phenomenon known as synonyms For example, “big” and “large”; “smart” and “intelligent”; “former” and “previous” can be substituted with one another in certain contexts Synonymy in semantics is an inter-lexical sense relation - Synonymy is a relation in which various words have different (written and sound) forms but have the same or nearly the same meaning ( Tô Minh Thanh 2007:63) I will give you some following examples: Example 1: The three English verbs teach, instruct and educate are synonyms; they both mean help somebody learn something by giving information about it Example 2: The three English adjectives smart, intelligent and clever are synonyms; they refer to good at learning, understanding and thinking in a logical way about things; showing this ability - Besides, Hilman Pardede (2016:54) has stated that: “Synonymy is sameness of meaning” For instance: James loves Rose’s only sister and James loves the female sibling of Rose are synonymous This phenomenon is called paraphrase It means Hilman Pardede that a pair of synonymy objects (sentence) will able to paraphrase each other - From my point of view, there are two important points to note regarding the definition First, it does not limit the relationship between synonyms and lexemes This can allow a lexical simple expression to have the same meaning as a lexical complex expression Second, it creates identity, not just similarity, which means the standard of synonyms It is worth noting that all linguists and semanticists, such as Hilman Pardede and Tô Minh Thanh, agree that synonyms mean two words, two phrases, two clauses, two sentences that have the same meaning increase I definitely agree with these definitions in terms of identity However, while such synonyms may be similar in meaning, they differ in form, style, or other aspects of meaning Overall, the definition of synonyms remains a controversial subject among semanticists, and it is difficult to find a specific definition of a synonym b, Classification - According Tô Minh Thanh (2007), there are two main type of synonymy They are true synonymy and partial synonymy However, they are called by others name such as true synonymy (complete synonymy, full synonymy, absolute synonymy); partial synonymy (near synonymy) It’s difficult to describe about the differences between two categories, so I make a diagram to illustrate: True synonymy - Partial synonymy No synonymy In terms of true synonymy, there are few true synonyms in the lexicon of language Absolute synonyms like a united circle It means that true synonyms in any context in which common sense is referred to can be substituted for the other without changing the truth value, communicative effect or "meaning" - In terms of partial synonymy, a word can express a myriad of implications, connotations, and attitudes in addition to its basic ‘dictionary’ meaning And a word often has near-synonyms that differ from it solely in these nuances of meaning So, in order to find the right word to use in any particular situation—the one that precisely conveys the desired meaning and yet avoids unwanted implications—one must carefully consider the differences between all of the options (Edmonds and Hirst 2000: 105) Therefore, the content of partial synonym is showed up in two circles that have intersecting area and non-intersecting area They aren’t exactly same For example, student and pupil may be considered as synonyms because they may be used interchangeably in reference to someone is studying at a school A student/ pupil is raising hand However, “pupil” is used to refer to schoolchildren who are in the primary and elementary grades as well as those in secondary schools while “a student” is a person who is studying at school School include all the levels school from primary to university In brief, student and pupil are partial synonym Synonymy in poetry - Poetry is a literary medium that uses aesthetic and often rhythmic qualities of language to evoke meaning in addition to, or in place of, a prosaic ostensible meaning It is one the most popular text type in each of literature culture in the world Therefore, the following examples are presented to illustrate the function and effectiveness of synonymy in specific poem However, some references to the contextual features and views are introduced to give a clear idea of the analysis - The romantic English poet – William Wordsworth write The Solitary Reaper: The Solitary Reaper Behold her, single in the field, Yon solitary Highland Lass! Reaping and singing by herself; Stop here, or gently pass! Alone she cuts and binds the grain, And sings a melancholy strain; … Among the farthest Hebrides Will no one tell me what she sings Perhaps the plaintive numbers flow For old, unhappy, far-off things, And battles long ago: Or is it some more humble lay, Familiar matter of to-day? Some natural sorrow, loss, or pain, … And o'er the sickle bending; I listened, motionless and still; And, as I mounted up the hill, The music in my heart I bore, Long after it was heard no more This poem show that discusses music, specifically the song sung by a Scottish girl while mowing hay with a sickle Though the poem's narrator cannot understand what the girl is actually singing about, the girl's song sticks with him, its melancholy beauty echoing in his head "long after" its sound has faded In this way, the poem suggests that art can transcend cultural boundaries, even language Art is capable of communicating feeling or emotion in the absence of understanding There many pair of synonyms with different valuable meaning One can find that the poet attempts to make use of synonymy to show or represent one of his basic themes, i e., the theme of isolation and loneliness This theme is one of the recurrent notions in the romantic poetry, in general and W Wordsworth, in particular In terms of a pair Solitary and By herself, “Solitary” is an adjective which reffers to done alone/ enjoying being alone/ alone (person, place, animal….)/ single, and “By herself” reffers to alone/ without anyone else Another pair of synonym indicate seclusion in poem is “Farthest” that means at the greatest distance in space, direction or time, and Far-off that describes distant/ far away/remote Moreover, the poet used partial synonyms about the feeling of blue such as melancholy, unhappy, sorrow, bore Although W Wordsworth write the similar content through the poem, this work always gets reader’s attention It proves the function of synonymy in literature is diversify and enrich the vocabulary suitable for the context, creating the uniqueness of poet’s writing This proves what Abrams (1953: 23) asserts that “although, Wordsworth sang of joy and love, he did not avert his eyes from anguish or evil, but often represents a ‘‘dark world” He (Ibid) mentions that “Wordsworth is preeminently the poet of solitude… no poet is more emphatically the poet of community” Wordsworth, therefore, has an acute sense of his own being that sharpens his awareness of other beings, and his intention is to require us his audience to acknowledge the being of his narrative personae and so to bring them within the range of conscience and of natural sympathy Rural loneliness has been described as the proper environment or condition for the right contemplation of nature The Romantic poets prefer the tranquility and serenity of the rural environment to the contamination and complexity of the city life by implied contrast The poet, his life in the rural environment make the poet think deeply and have a right view of life - In addition, from “Lucy” is also another famous poem of William Wordsworth: Strange fits of passion have I known: And I will dare to tell, But in the lover's ear alone, What once to me befell When she I loved look'd every day Fresh as a rose in June , I to her cottage bent my way, Beneath an evening moon Upon the moon I fix'd my eye, All over the wide lea; With quickening pace my horse drew nigh Those paths so dear to me In one of those sweet dreams I feel The joy of my desire; And she I cherish'd turn'd her wheel Beside an English fire 'Myself will to my darling be Both law and impulse; and with me This poem shows the peculiar process of human consciousness, especially the consciousness of lovers; this poem is an allusion to the death of a loved one It illustrates the fear and sorrow of losing a loved one This poem tells those who know what it means to be in a narrative form that this language occasionally carries a poetic inversion, which may be due to the embarrassment of admitting an apparently trivial neurotic event The sudden disappearance of the moon stimulates the thought of a more tragic disappearance that may occur in the narrator's mind The moon is a traditional symbol of change In the poem the moon is peculiarly fixed in the intensity of the narrator’s gaze while he rides and yet it is also oddly mobile as it descends and drops with uncanny speed which is made mysterious by an optical illusion (see Cutajar, 2010) Nevertheless, this quirky psychological aberration is given a prophetic meaning in the poem by the fact that the other Lucy poems are epitaphs for someone who has died In Lucy, the poet again uses synonymous expressions and words to emphasize another important theme in the romantic poetry which is ‘love’ There are many synonyms that was used in this poem Passion is preffered to love/affection/strong feeling or emotion Bisides, lover who one who loves/ beloved Moreover, Loved means did love/ fall in love with Dear like a fond/affectionate/loved/lovable Sweet reprenent for darling/lover Desire is also love/affection/fond In addition, Darling is someone who dearly loved/sweet/lover As shown in this analysis, the poet does not use these words at random, rather he attempts to motivate the theme of love in the mind of the reader III CONCLUSION On the bases of the findings arrived at by the analysis, this study has come up with the following results: - We know that valuable meaning of the word “synonymy” which related to similar in meaning - Synonymy include two main categories: True synonymy and Partial synonymy - Synonymy is a stylistic marker of William Wordsworth poetry - Function of synonymy are making literature more unique and analyzing, distinguishing - Not only is synonymy related to local themes (that are related to certain stanzas) in meaning of word in semantic and lexicology poems but also to ‘global’ ones - Romantic themes such as death, love, and isolation have different deep semantic features structures, leading to different literary significance REFERENCES Tô Minh Thanh, Semantics (Nhà xuất Đại học Quốc Gia TP Hồ Chí Minh, 2007) Hilman Pardede, Introducing English Semantics (Pematang siantar, 2016) John Lyons, Linguistic Semantics (Cambridge University Press, 1995) M Lynne Murphy, Semantic Relations and the Lexicon (Cambridge University Press, 2008) Maja, Cognitive Synonym, 2009: http://facta.junis.ni.ac.rs/lal/lal200902/lal200902-05.pdf Edmonds and Hirst, Near synonym and Lexical choice (University of Toronto, 2002) William Wordsworth, The Solitary Reaper: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45554/the-solitary-reaper William Wordsworth, Lucy poems: http://cola.calpoly.edu/~pmarchba/TEXTS/POETRY/W_Wordsworth/1798_1801_Lu cy_poems.pdf