|
|
 #2 (permalink) Thu Jan 12, 2006 14:49 pm Lexicology |
|
|
| Jailbird wrote: |
I had such a question on my list of questions for lexicology exam.
"Are all the words "mind" in the following sentences different or are they all one word used in its different meanings?
"Mind you, I don't mind minding the children if the children mind me".
What would you answer to this??? |
That all depends on how you look at the situation. Traditionally they would teach us that they are one word with different meanings. However, in modern-day linguistics they say that if you have the same form but different meanings, you have different words.
So, when we were little kids in school, the teachers would tell us that the word "set" has more than 35 different meanings. However, when I got to linguistics school, they said that there are more than 35 different words with the phonological form "set".
I have no idea which point of view your instructor is looking for. What brought the question up? |
|
Jamie (K)
Guest
|
|
| #3 (permalink) Fri Jan 13, 2006 12:12 pm Lexicology |
|
|
I actually thought that was just the polysemy..and nothing else..But that's an open question, and only my point of view..and the question was included in my exam..So, i was curious to find out teh correct answer...maybe not the correct, but just other points of view
_________________
Your Jailbird |
|
Jailbird
I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 04 Jul 2004
Posts: 187
Location: Russia, Moscow
|
 |
| #4 (permalink) Fri Jan 13, 2006 13:50 pm Mind |
|
|
Hi Jailbird,
Mind you, I don't mind minding the children if the children mind me.
1 Mind you is an expression used to qualify a previous statement suggesting: I must tell you on the other hand.
2 I don't mind means: I have no objection.
3 Minding the children means: looking after the children.
4 If the children mind me means: if the children keep out of my way.
Just some thoughts
Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple |
|
Alan
Co-founder
Joined: 27 Sep 2003
Posts: 13887
Location: UK
|
|
| #5 (permalink) Sat Jan 14, 2006 22:02 pm Lexicology |
|
|
Well, yes, Alan, that's true, I see the point. But still that's a big semantical question^ is that one word with different meaning (just a polysemantic) or different ones???
_________________
Your Jailbird |
|
Jailbird
I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 04 Jul 2004
Posts: 187
Location: Russia, Moscow
|
|
| #6 (permalink) Sat Jan 14, 2006 23:40 pm Polysemy |
|
|
Hi Jailbird,
Many words have more than one meaning and multiple meaning (or if you prefer the fancy word polysemy) is surely the normal state for most common words in English. A dictionary in its descriptive function will have to give a list of definitions for each of the different 'meanings'. In the light of that to pick on a word and give a true meaning to it is a pointless exercise. Newly created words at the time of their creation may well remain chaste and pure for a time but they too will soon lose their virginity and diversify.
Alan
_________________
English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Progressive Forms |
|
Alan
Co-founder
Joined: 27 Sep 2003
Posts: 13887
Location: UK
|
|
|
| Little vs. small | It opens or It's open |
