Название: Лексикология английского языка - Антрушина Г. В.

Жанр: Иностранные языки

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This connotation is also characteristic of to peer which will be clear from the following typical contexts of the verb.

One peers at smb./smth. in darkness, through the fog, through dimmed glasses or windows, from a great distance; a short-sighted person may also peer at things. So, in the semantic structure of to peer are encoded circumstances preventing one from seeing clearly.

VIII. The synonyms pretty, handsome, beautiful have been mentioned as the ones which are more or less interchangeable. Yet, each of them describes a special type of human beauty: beautiful is mostly associated with classical features and a perfect figure, handsome with a tall stature, a certain robustness and fine proportions, pretty with small delicate features and a fresh complexion. This connotation may be defined as the connotation of attendant features.

IX. Stylistic connotations stand somewhat apart for two reasons. Firstly, some scholars do not regard the word's stylistic characteristic as a connotative component of its semanticstructure. Secondly, stylistic connotations are subject to further classification, namely:

colloquial, slang, dialect, learned, poetic, terminological, archaic. Here again we are dealing with stylistically marked words (see Ch. 1, 2), but this time we approach the feature of stylistic characteristics from a different angle: from the point of view of synonyms' frequent differentiation characteristics.

Here are some examples of synonyms which are differentiated by stylistic connotations (see also Ch. 2). The word in brackets starting each group shows the denotation of the synonyms.

(Meal). Snack, bite (coil.), snap (dial.), repast, refreshment, feast (formal).

These synonyms, besides stylistic connotations, have connotations of attendant features.

Snack, bite, snap all denote a frugal meal taken in a hurry; refreshment is also a light meal; feast is a rich or abundant meal.

(Girl). Girlie (coil.), lass, lassie (dial.), bird, birdie, jane, fluff, skirt (sl.), maiden (poet.), damsel (arch.).

(To leave). To be off, to clear out (coil.), to beat it, to hoof it, to take the air (sl.), to depart, to retire, to withdraw (formal).

Exercises

I. Consider your answers to the following.

1. Say why synonyms are one of the language's most important expressive means. Illustrate your answer with examples.

2. Synonyms are sometimes described as words with "dual" characteristics. What is meant by this?

3. The meanings of two apparent synonyms may be in a way opposed to each other. Why are such words still regarded as synonyms? Give examples.

4. How are synonyms traditionally defined? On what criterion is this definition based? Which aspects of this definition are open to criticism?

5. How can synonyms be defined in the terms of componential analysis? On what criterion is this definition based?

6. Show how the dual nature of synonyms can be clearly seen if they are regarded through semantic criterion.

7. Why is the definition of synonyms based on the criterion of interchangeability open to question? Illustrate your answer with examples.

8. What types of synonyms were defined in Academician V. V. Vinogradov's classification system? Which aspects of this classification are open to question?

9. What is the modern approach to classifying synonyms? Illustrate this classification with examples.

10. What connotations differentiate the verbs to peep and to peer; the adjectives pretty, handsome and beautiful?

II. The sentences given below contain synonyms. Write them out in groups and explain the difference where the words are familiar.

1. a) While Kitty chatted gaily with her neighbours she watched Walter, b) Ashenden knew that R. had not sent for him to talk about weather and crops, c) As he spoke he rose from the bed. d) He is said to be honest. e) He'll tell you all about himself, f) If you wish to converse with me define your terms. 2. a) She felt on a sudden a cold chill pass through her limbs and she shivered. b) Her lips trembled so that she could hardly frame the words, c) I was shaking like a leaf when I came here. d) He shuddered with disgust, 3.a)He gave his wrist-watch a glance, b) Tommy gave her a look out of the corner of his eye. c) But her abstract gaze scarcely noticed the blue sea and the crowded shipping in the harbour, d) Let me have just one peep at the letter. 4. a) Bessie gets up and walks towards the window, b) He did nothing from morning till night but wander at random, c) I saw a man strolling along. d) The men sauntered over to the next room. 5. a) I began to meditate upon writer's life. b) You had better reflect a little, c) The more he thought of it the less he liked the idea. d) I'm sure that a little walk will keep you from breeding. 6. a) The next witness was Dr. Burnett, a thin middle-aged man. b) The woman was tall with reddish curly hair and held a scarlet kimono round her slender figure, c) The girl was slim and dark. d) Studying him, Mrs. Page saw a spare young man with high cheekbones and blue eyes. 7. a) There was a fat woman, who gasped when she talked, b) She came in like a ship at full sail, an imposing creature, tall and stout, c) She was twenty-seven perhaps, plump, and in a coarse fashion pretty, d) He was a person of perhaps forty, red-faced, cheerful, thick. 8. a) Strange, unstable woman. It was rather embarrassing that she would cry in a public gallery.

b) It was a life that perhaps formed queer characters.

c) I thought it odd that they should allow her to dance quite quietly in Berlin, d) It is a veritable picture of an old country inn with low, quaint rooms and latticed windows.