This essay aims to introduce Semantics to those who are interested in it. Initially, It displays where it is positioned in the “Language diagram”. Also, it discusses various definitions of semantics, importance of semantics and two types of Meaning.

Let’s cast a glance at the language components and what each one deals with. The diagram below is self-explanatory. 

Definitions of Semantics

What is semantics?
 
    • Semantics is the study of the meaning of words, phrases and sentences. (Yule 2014)
    • Semantics is the study of the meaning in Language. (Hurford & Heasley 2007)
    • Semantics is the study of meaning. (Partee,1999)

As we can see above, the definitions of semantics, by prominent figures in this field, revolve around the study of meaning  in language.

Importance of Semantics

The importance of semantics, as a subfield of linguistics, can be summarized in the following points:

1. Clear understanding  of meaning allows students and teachers to communicate their messages clearly. For example:
    • I see my father every day. 
    • *I sea my father every day. 
2. Semantics provides speakers  with a structure to use when they need to put words into sentences, creating meaning. For example:
    • *A sandwich has eaten a boy.  ( Structure: , Meaning :)
    • A boy has eaten a sandwich. ( Structure: , Meaning :)
    • *Colorless green ideas sleep furiously. X ( Structure: , Meaning: )
3. The true power of semantics is that it is less structured than syntax and easier way to communicate information. 
If I said “The color of the sky is blue”, or “The sky is now blue”, or “I see a blue sky”, you would generally get the same meaning that the sky is blue. The important information in any of these variations are the words “sky” and “blue”.

4. Structural ambiguity can also give a good reason for the importance of semantic research.
For example:
‘The chicken is ready to eat'
This sentence can be an example of structural ambiguity. This sentence could mean:
    • The chicken (itself) is hungry and so it is ready to eat.
    • The chicken is ready to be served and eaten by somebody else.

5. Understanding the change in some words meaning over time. 
For example
    • The word “ nice” in 1300s was used to mean “foolish”, but now it is a positive Adjective.

    • The word ‘Silly’ was seen as ‘happy’ in the 1200s. However, in the 1500’s the meaning shifted to refer to a person who is ‘empty-headed’ or lacking in common sense.

Two Types of Meaning

Yule ( 2014) makes a broad distinction between conceptual meaning and associative meaning.

Conceptual ( denotative/ literal/ dictionary) meaning covers those basic, essential components of meaning that are conveyed by the literal use of a word.
It is the type of meaning that dictionaries are designed to describe. Some of the basic components of a word like needle in English might include 'thin, sharp, steel instrument.

Associative (connotative) meaning. 
However, different people might have different associations or connotations attached to a word like needle. They might associate it with 'pain,' or 'illness,‘. 'blood,' 'drugs,' 'thread,' or 'knitting.
The connotation of a word can be positive, negative, or neutral. It can also be either cultural or personal. The table below displays the conceptual and associative meanings of  two words:“ blood” and “pig” 

Conclusion

In conclusion, we can say that semantics is a subfield of linguistics that is concerned with meaning in language. However, this meaning can be either a literal or dictionary meaning that Yule( 2014) called “ conceptual meaning”, or it can be connotative which is known as “ associative meaning.

References

George Yule (2014) The Study of Language (5th edition) Cambridge University Press

Hurford, J., B. Heasley and M. Smith (2007) Semantics: A Coursebook (2nd edition) Cambridge University Press

Partee, Barbara H. 1999. "Semantics" in R.A. Wilson and F.C. Keil, eds., The MIT Encyclopedia of the Cognitive Sciences. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press. 739-742.

SEMANTICS-1: What is Semantics? 
Word of the month: Nice! An Anglo-Norman insult.
The Importance of semantics.

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