Linguistics 1 FRE-LINC12H Semantics Assignment 1: Analysis of Meaning

This document provides a comprehensive solution to a Linguistics 1 assignment, focusing on the study of semantics and meaning. The assignment covers various aspects of linguistics, including non-linguistic symbols, compositional and non-compositional phrases, and the role of situation in defining word meanings. It delves into the advantages and limitations of using pictures in dictionaries, examines how different linguistic units communicate meaning, and explores noun compounding and its semantic relationships. The solution also addresses the challenges of the genus and differentia (GD) definition approach in lexicology, and provides examples of deixis. For students in FREC12H, the assignment includes specific questions and examples related to the French language, making it a valuable resource for students studying linguistics with a focus on French.

Running head: Linguistics 1
Linguistics
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation

Linguistics 2
K. McCrindle
Centre for French and Linguistics
FRE-LINC12H - Semantics: The Study of Meaning
Assignment #1 (based on Ch. 1-4)
Due date: Wed. Jan. 31, beginning of class (1 p.m.)
50 marks, worth 15% of final grade
Late assignments will receive a penalty of 5% per day, unless there is a satisfactory reason for
the late submission, which is discussed with the instructor in advance. French students may write
explanations in English (although are welcome to write in French); please note that examples
must be from the French language where indicated.
1. There are many meaningful ways of behaving which do not involve language. Some
conventional, accepted symbols are the left-right indicator on cars, the use of flags at sea to
convey various specific messages, or the many types of symbols involving body parts (bowing,
waving, nodding, etc.) Identify 5 other conventional non-linguistic symbols, which are not from
class or from the textbook. (5 marks)
Solution
Emblems
These are gestures that have specific agreed-on meaning. These differ from the signs language
employed by those with hearing difficulties. Examples include a raised thumb, the ‘OK’ sign
with thumb and index finger joined together to form a circle (Mavridis, 2015).
Artefacts
These are objects and images used to communicate specific information. For example, an avatar
can be used on social media to represent an identity. Uniforms are also provided more details
about one’s identity.
Space
The space distance between individuals and objects can show whether the association is formal
or social or their social rank. For example, the best corner office or desk is left for the executive.

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Societal status.
Symbols such as gold, jewellery, cars, clothing and other valuables are used to communicate the
social status, financial strength, influence and religion in the society.
Haptics
This is communication through touch. Depending on the sex and position of the touch, one can
communicate affection, familiarity, sympathy among others. Women tend to use touch to
communicate care and concern whereas men mostly use it to convey control.
2. The following pairs have similar denotations but very different connotations:
cheap / inexpensive avare / économe
speaking / yapping mince / maigre
studious / nerdy homme / mec
Write 5 other pairs of words (not from class or the textbook) that have different connotations.
You may use examples from other languages but, if you do so, provide an English translation.
For students enrolled in FREC12H, the pairs of words must be from the French language. (5
marks)
Solution
Handicapped /crippled
Attractive/ pretty
House/ Residence
Childlike/childish
Skinny/slender
3. In some ways, language is compositional and in some ways it is non-compositional. Write 5
compositional phrases and 5 non-compositional phrases. Students in FREC12H must provide
phrases in French. (5 marks)
Solution
Compositional phrases
Blackboard

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Stomach pain
Bread flour
Rabbit foot
Lake fish
Non – compositional phrases
Real estate
Face value
Shooting pain
Greenhouse
Bluebird
(Hashimoto & Tsuruoka, 2016).
4. Can the meanings of the following words be described in terms of situation? If so, which
situations? FREC12H students should refer to the French words. (5 marks)
goodbye / au revoir
pasta / pâtes
that / cela
us / nous
doorway / l’embrasure de la porte
Solution
Goodbye
Yes,
This word Describes a situation of departing or separation. It can be an emotional separation or
joyous one. For instance, travelling far away and leaving the loved ones or a lady is getting
married and bidding the parents.
Pasta
Yes. This is food made from unleavened dough of durum mixed with what floor or eggs then
cooked by boiling or baking. The food is high in carbohydrate and thus is taken any time except
during evening. So the meaning of the meal describes daytime when it should be taken.

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That
The word ‘that’ can be used to describe a situation or object that is not near or a situation that is
past. It can also be used to describe singular or plural.
Us
The word ‘us’ denotes plurality and can imply a situation where there is unity or agreement
among people upon a certain point.
Doorway
The word can be used to describe the existence of a pathway with or without a door at the
entrance or just a door itself. Alternatively, It can be used to describe an opening or freeway.
5. Some dictionaries use pictures in order to escape the problem of circular definitions. What are
the advantages and limitations of this strategy? Explain how easily the meaning of the following
words could be conveyed pictorially and why: birch, to stab, pink, sad, river, above, meadow,
cell phone, cautious, awful. FREC12H students please consider the meaning of the French
equivalents to the above words: un bouleau, blesser/tuer d’un coup de couteau, le rose, triste,
une rivière, au-dessus, un pré, un cellulaire, prudent, affreux. (5 marks)
Solution
Advantages
i. Effective for illiterate people. The pictures in the dictionary can convey meaning even to
the ignorant
ii. Easy explanation. Pictorial representation makes interpretations and meanings easier
iii. Saves time. Written and oral communication takes a lot of time to exchange information
as opposed to pictures that can contain compressed information
iv. Pictures stick to the memory so is the information that comes with it.
Disadvantages
i. Complex presentation. Sometimes the use of pictures to present information becomes
complex, and the receivers may not comprehend the meaning portrayed by the pictures.

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ii. Time wastage. Sometimes the use of pictures to portray given ideas can take a lot of time
compared to oral communication where it can just be spoken at once.
Birch - can be portrayed pictorially by using a person being caned with a bundle of twigs.
To stab - use of a picture of a person thrusting a knife into someone’s body and presence of
blood.
Pink - little girls can be used to portray the romantic and cute scenario that the colour represents
Sad- an individual with his/her head bent to curled knees and with a background that is dull
River- use of a picture with a river flowing with rugged banks and a sky that is either blue or
dark – use of a picture with black colour and some little light from the moon in the sky
Above- use of a flying eagle and blue sky or a kite
Meadow – use of picture with grassland or with some blossomed flowers and the sun rising at
the horizon.
Cell phone- use of a picture of a phone or an individual on-call using the cellphone
Cautious- use of a triangularly shaped picture with an exclamation mark at the centre
Awful – use of a picture with an unordinary event or action
6. Words are not the only linguistic units that communicate meaning. Discuss whether each of
the following categories can communicate meaning and, if so, what sorts: intonation, speech
volume, speech speed, length of sentence, choice of language and (for type-written language)
choice of font. (5 marks)
Solution
Intonation
Can be used to express feelings and emphasise and whether the sentence has come to an end.
Speech volume
High or low speech volume can be used to express excitement, emotional involvement or to
create interest. A raised speech volume can be used to add emphasis.
Speech speed

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Speaking rate can be high, medium or low and all can be used to portray meaning. A high rate of
speech speed may give the listener an impression of limited time or quick thinking; average rate
may imply the listener is expected to understand and follow after, whereas slow speaking may
mean the listener is slow of thought, incompetent or uneducated.
Length of sentence
Sentence length can be long or short to portray a detailed explanation for purposes of
comprehension whereas a short phrase may imply simplicity of idea being communicated.
Choice of language
The choice of language can convey a different meaning. An appropriate language brings out the
meaning of words. The choice of language can also portray the type of audience and the situation
as well.
Choice of font
The choice of the font has to mean. For instance, in a formal setting, times new roman is usually
used whereas in a casual environment other fonts which appear casual are used. The expected
audience and way of delivery can also determine the choice of font. For instance, clear fonts are
supposed to be used for PowerPoint presentations as opposed to those used in documents.
7. Noun compounding is an extremely frequent means of word-formation in English, and shows
many different types of meaning relation between the compounded elements: a tree house is a
type of house in a tree, but a lighthouse is a type of 'house' which contains a light, and a
poorhouse was an institution for the accommodation of the poor. A computer problem is a
problem with a computer and a zebra crossing is a crossing that is striped like a zebra.
FREC12H: En français, une portefeuille est quelque chose (non pas une porte!) POUR porter les
feuilles et un fruit de mer est quelque chose (non pas un fruit!) qui vient DE la mer.

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List 5 more examples of noun compounds and describe the semantic relationships between the
constituent parts. (FREC12H students: At least 3 examples must come from French.) What do
compounds reveal about meaning in language? (5 marks)
Solution
Toothpaste – is made up of two nouns tooth and paste but when joined they form a word which
means it is a paste for the teeth.
Bedroom - is made up of two nouns which have right meanings separately but when combined
they form one word which means it’s a room where the bed is located
Swimming pool- is made up of a verb and a noun. The verb tells more of the noun. For instance,
it shows that it is a pool meant for swimming and nothing else
Driving licence – is made up of a verb and a noun where the verb provides more information to
the noun. That is, it tells that the type of license is a driving one.
Greenhouse – is made up of an adjective and a noun where the adjective provides additional
information to the noun. For example, green tells us more about the type of the house that it is
for agricultural purposes.
8. Genus and differentia (GD definition) is often the approach used by lexicologists who write
dictionary definitions. Are there any inherent problems in using this approach? If so, why?
Explain using three specific examples. FREC12H students should give examples from the
French language. (5 marks)
Solution
Limitations
The GD definition produces a multiplicity of meaning from a single word.
Example: a square can be taken to mean a rectangle or a rhombus
Under the GD definition, two different objects or nouns can have the same meaning which can
be misleading.
For example, a triangle is defined as a plane figure comprising of 3 straight sides that are
connected, whereas a quadrilateral is equally a plane figure with four straight sides that are
connected.

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Some definitions can be expressed as a single genus and two differentiae.
For example, both the triangle and a quadrilateral have a single genus called a plane figure.
Both the triangle and quadrilateral have two differentiae of three and four straight connected
sides respectively.
9. Give two examples (in full sentences) of each of the following types of deixis:
a) Person deixis
b) temporal deixis
c) discourse deixis
Students in FREC12H should provide examples from the French language.
(5 marks)
Solution
a) Person deixis
I am going to the market to get some fresh vegetable for dinner.
You should be dressing up for the concert before it starts to rain.
b) Temporal deixis
It is so unfortunate that I have stayed with your novel for so long, but be sure to get it before the
end of next week.
They arrived here for the checkup very late; they have to book for another appoint tomorrow
c) Discourse deixis
That was a challenging examination.
This is a hardworking student.
10. Give 5 examples of indirect speech acts, i.e. situations where a particular grammatical
structure (question, command, statement, etc.) is used with an illocutionary force different from
the one it is typically assumed to express. FREC12H students should provide at least three
examples from the French language. (5 marks)

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ex: "You're not taking that course, are you?" - implies that it's a bad idea to do so
Solution
“Watch out Dwaine! You are driving off the road.” – Implies that if Dwaine is not careful, he is
getting out of the road.
“Marie, you got that right? Don’t leave the house until I am back.” – meaning that Marie should
remain in the house until her sister is back.
“Have a seat and let us have lunch, shall we?” – He is already welcomed to join in having lunch
together
“Don’t worry, you will make there, you only need to put in a little more effort” – encouraging
that all is possible at the end.
“You are not bringing those dirty tins to the house, are you?”- The dirty tins are not permitted in
the house

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References
Hashimoto, K., & Tsuruoka, Y. (2016). Adaptive joint learning of compositional and non-
compositional phrase embeddings. arXiv preprint arXiv:1603.06067.
Mavridis, N. (2015). A review of verbal and non-verbal human–robot interactive
communication. Robotics and Autonomous Systems, 63, 22-35.