Definition:
Semantic refers to anything related to the meaning of words, phrases, signs, and symbols within a language. It is a key area of linguistics that investigates how meaning is constructed, interpreted, and conveyed in communication. Semantics covers the study of how language represents the world, how users of a language understand messages, and how they use context to infer meaning. This includes the meanings of words, the relationships between words, and how combinations of words create new meanings.
Etymology & Origin:
The word “semantic” derives from the French “sémantique,” introduced in the 19th century by French linguist Michel Bréal, who is considered one of the founders of semantics as a field of study. It traces back further to the Greek “semantikos,” meaning “significant,” from “semainein” (“to signify” or “to indicate”), which in turn comes from “sema,” meaning “sign.” Semantics, therefore, deals with the study of signs and their meaning, reflecting the fundamental human activity of using language to signify thoughts, intentions, and realities.
Examples:
- Polysemy: The phenomenon where a single word can have multiple related meanings, like “bank” referring to the edge of a river or a financial institution.
- Homonyms: Words that are spelled and pronounced the same but have different meanings, such as “bat” (the flying mammal) and “bat” (a piece of sports equipment).
- Contextual Meaning: How the meaning of a word or phrase can change based on the context of the sentence or conversation, illustrating the dynamic nature of language interpretation.
