BJU Semantic

1. a. What is the difference between lexical and compositional semantics?
Answer : Semantics is the study of the meaning of morphemes, words, phrases, and
sentences. Semantics is defined as “the subfield of linguistics that studies meaning in
language.” Semantics as a whole can be divided into two main fields – lexical semantics
and compositional semantics. The difference between these two closely related ideas lies
in the scope: lexical semantics deals with individual word meanings, while compositional
semantics deals with how those lexical meanings combine to form more complex phrasal
meanings.
b. Face masks : lexical
splashes of body fluids : compositional
droplets : lexical
pandemic : lexical
out for a walk : compositional
2. a. What is the difference between reference and sense meanings?

Answer : Reference is a part of meaning. Assume that there are three trees in a field.
Each tree has a unique reference. Each branch on each tree has a unique reference. And
each leaf and the field have a unique reference. There are two ways we can look at
reference. The first is physical in that each atom and electron has reference whether it can
be seen or not. The second is perceptual: this means how we see objects--do we see them
as an object or not? We will take the latter approach. Reference also includes imaginary
objects: unicorns, leprechauns, Santa Claus, Hades, elves, eternal bliss, and so forth. This
would also include objects which currently do not exist but could exist: a King of France,
dinosaurs, a five-cent ice-cream cone, and so forth.
Sense is the more interesting part meaning. Sense refers to how we see an object or the
amount of information given about an object. The classic example cited showing the
distinction is the planet Venus. As a planet it has reference arbitrarily given the name
Venus. It is often called the morning star when seen in the morning, and the everning star
when seen in the evening. Thus, it has two senses, depending on the time of day the
object is seen. The planet itself is the referent, the morning star is one sense, the evening
star the other sense. It could have other senses.
So the difference is reference can be defined as the meaning of a word or expression in a
particular context, while sense is defined as the meaning of the word or expression which
denotes that concrete referent. Every expression that has meaning has sense, but not
every expression has reference!
b. conception :
Aristotle : Sense
Comedy : reference
Greece : sense
Humans : reference
Society : reference
Henry Bergson : sense
This view
Laughter
3. a. What is presupposition?
Answer : A presupposition is background belief, relating to an utterance, that :
 must be mutually known or assumed by the speaker and addressee for the
utterance to be considered appropriate in context
 generally will remain a necessary assumption whether the utterance is placed in
the form of an assertion, denial, or question, and
 can generally be associated with a specific lexical item or grammatical feature
(presupposition trigger) in the utterance.
Examples: The utterance John regrets that he stopped doing linguistics before he

left Cambridge has the following presuppositions:
 There is someone uniquely identifiable to speaker and addressee as John.
 John stopped doing linguistics before he left Cambridge.
 John was doing linguistics before he left Cambridge.
 John left Cambridge.
 John had been at Cambridge.
b. Mention what is presupposed by each of the following sentences.

 Is Mike playing that loud music?
Mike is playing music
 What I want for my birthday is a new cell phone.
A new cell phone for my birthday
 Andy didn’t go to work today.
Andi is going to work
 Agnes stopped playing the piano several years ago.
Agnes was not playing the piano anymore
 When did Andrew go back to school?
Andrew go back to school
4. a. What is the diffrence between denotation and conotation?

Answer : Denotation is actually the word’s literal meaning. As such, it is regarded as a
“dictionary definition.” Thus, when you look for the word “snake” in the dictionary,
you’ll stumble upon its most denotative definition like any reptilian, long, tapering, and
often venomous cylindrical animals found in temperate or in tropical areas that is
characterized as being legless and scaly.
Connotation is very different because it pertains to the more loose associations to a
particular word. It can also include the emotional input that is connected to a certain term
or word. The connotative definition or description coexists with its denotative meaning.
And so, when you are asked about the connotative meaning of the word “snake,” one of
your best answers could be “danger.” Associating “evil” with snakes is also pretty
acceptable.
Example of denotation and connotation :
 Be careful hiking during the day; snakes may be out looking for water
(Denotation)
 This man is a snake in Randi Caesar’s circle of friends (Connotation)
So the difference of denotation and connotation is Denotation is the actual literal

definition or meaning of a word or term. It is the dictionary definition and denotation
gives a more limited yet descriptive definition of a term. While Connotation is an
association of a term. It can also be an emotional input attached to a word thus making it
more figurative and suggestive and connotation can have a variety of descriptions
affected by mood, emotion, experience, and season, among other factors.
b. Find the denotative meaning of the words politician and statesman, then explain how
they differ in connotation
Answer : Politician, statesman refer to one skilled in politics. These terms differ
particularly in their connotations; politician is more often derogatory, and statesman
laudatory. Politician suggests the schemes and devices of a person who engages in
(especially small) politics for party ends or for one's own advantage: a dishonest
politician. Statesman suggests the eminent ability, foresight, and unselfish patriotic
devotion of a person dealing with (especially important or great) affairs of state: a
distinguished statesman.

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1. a. What is the difference between lexical and compositional semantics?

2. a. What is the difference between reference and sense meanings?

Examples: The utterance John regrets that he stopped doing linguistics before he

b. Mention what is presupposed by each of the following sentences.

4. a. What is the diffrence between denotation and conotation?

So the difference of denotation and connotation is Denotation is the actual literal

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