Linguistic Concepts: Semantics, Grammar, and Word Forms

The Radio Environment

The radio environment, where oral language is the most important expressive element, has specific characteristics:

• Immediacy
• Speed
• Irreversibility

Its functions include:

• Informing
• Training
• Entertainment

Semantic Relationships and Word Meanings

Denotation and Connotation

Denotation: The meaning found in the dictionary.

Connotation: The meanings that words evoke in us beyond their literal definition.

Hyperonymy

This is an inclusive relationship or hierarchy of meanings.

Synonymy

A relationship between meanings of identity. Types:

• Absolute Synonymy: When the meaning is identical.
• Partial Synonymy: Occurs in terms whose meaning is identical but their use differs.
• Referential Synonymy: When several words or expressions with distinct meanings share the same reference in a specific context.
• False Synonymy: Appears in terms within a semantic field.

Antonymy

A relationship between two words with opposite meanings. Types:

• Complementary: One implies the negation of the affirmation of the opposite, and vice versa.
• Reciprocal: Both terms imply each other reciprocally.
• Gradable: Opposition is situated on a scale of degrees.

Monosemy and Polysemy

Monosemy: One meaning.

Polysemy: More than one meaning.

Homonyms

Words that are spelled the same (homographs) but have different meanings, or are equally pronounced (homophones) but have different meanings.

Lexical and Grammatical Meaning

Lexical Meaning: The meaning of words that can be defined in a dictionary.

Grammatical Meaning: The meaning of words that have no lexical meaning, such as gender and number morphemes.

Verbal Periphrasis

Verbal periphrasis is used to express notions of manner or aspect. Verbs can take composite forms, consisting of a conjugated auxiliary verb and a verb in a non-personal form.

Aspectual Periphrasis

Several types may be given:

• Inchoative: Reports the onset of an action (e.g., “it is about to leave”).
• Durative: Provides information about an action in its development (e.g., “being considered”).
• Resultative: Reports the completion of an action (e.g., “the lecture is finished”).
• Iterative: Reports the repetition of an action (e.g., “again explained the lesson”).

Manner Periphrasis

They are of several types:

1. Obligation: (e.g., “duty to,” “have to,” “must”). Example: “He must study for the exam.”
2. Possibility or Probability: (e.g., “duty to,” “power to,” “have to”). Example: “Must be in the yard.”
3. Approach: (e.g., “come to,” “to”). Example: “The pen could cost a few thousand pesetas.”

Pronouns

Pronouns replace nouns. Types include:

• Personal pronouns
• Demonstrative pronouns
• Possessive pronouns
• Indefinite pronouns
• Numeral pronouns
• Relative pronouns
• Interrogative pronouns
• Exclamative pronouns

Determinants

Determinants accompany the noun, matching its gender and number, and update the noun. Types:

• Articles:
  • Definite: Identify the reference of the noun.
  • Indefinite: Present the noun in speech.
• Determinative Adjectives:
  • Demonstrative: Place the noun in space-time.
  • Possessive: Indicate membership or ownership by a person in the speech act.
  • Indefinite: Delimit quantity imprecisely.
  • Numerals: Delimit quantity precisely.
  • Interrogative and Exclamative: Used in interrogative and exclamatory sentences.