Lexical meaning

Definition

Lexical meaning refers to the specific, inherent meaning of a word as it relates to its definition in a language. This type of meaning is often distinguished from grammatical meaning, which involves the roles words play in sentences. Understanding lexical meaning helps us see how words can change in meaning through inflection and derivation, contributing to the richness of language.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Lexical meaning is central to understanding vocabulary and how it functions within a language.
2. Inflection changes a word's form to express different grammatical features like tense, number, or case without altering its core lexical meaning.
3. Derivation creates new words by adding prefixes or suffixes, which can modify the original lexical meaning significantly.
4. Words with lexical meanings can have both denotative (literal) and connotative (implied) meanings, adding layers to their use.
5. In context, lexical meaning can shift based on usage, cultural factors, or evolving language trends, illustrating the dynamic nature of vocabulary.

Review Questions

• How does understanding lexical meaning enhance your comprehension of inflection and derivation?
  • Understanding lexical meaning is crucial for grasping how inflection and derivation work because it allows you to see how the base meaning of a word can remain stable or change when grammatical modifications are applied. For instance, when you inflect a verb for tense, the core action remains the same while only its temporal aspect changes. Similarly, when you derive a new word by adding prefixes or suffixes, you can see how the lexical meaning shifts or expands while still relating back to the original term.
• Compare and contrast the effects of inflection and derivation on a word's lexical meaning.
  • Inflection typically maintains the lexical meaning of a word while modifying its grammatical aspects such as tense or plurality, allowing it to fit into different sentence structures without changing its core idea. In contrast, derivation often alters the lexical meaning by creating a new word altogether with a distinct definition that may relate to the original term but introduces new nuances or concepts. For example, adding 'un-' to 'happy' creates 'unhappy', changing the lexical meaning from positive to negative.
• Evaluate the implications of polysemy on lexical meaning within language evolution and communication.
  • Polysemy highlights how lexical meaning can be multifaceted, allowing a single word to carry various meanings depending on context. This characteristic can lead to richer communication but may also cause confusion if listeners do not share an understanding of which meaning is intended. As language evolves, polysemous words can develop new meanings through cultural shifts or changes in social context. Thus, evaluating polysemy is essential for understanding both historical language changes and current usage trends, as it reflects how people adapt their communication over time.

Related terms

Semantics: The study of meaning in language, focusing on how words, phrases, and sentences convey meanings.

Morphology: The branch of linguistics concerned with the structure of words and the way they are formed through morphemes, the smallest units of meaning.

Polysemy: A phenomenon where a single word has multiple meanings that are related by extension or metaphor.