Polysemy Semantic Change

The Relationship Between Polysemy, Metaphor and Semantic Change

Introduction

Semantics is the study of meanings of words and sentences communicated through language (Saeed, John I., 1997: 3). Language is a dynamic process and it is believed that change in semantics is less resistant than other areas of grammar so that meaning changes relatively easily and quickly (April McMahon, Understanding Language Change). A semantic change occurs when a different intention conveyed by a word is established in usage within a community. Semantic change can be driven by a number of factors. Semantic change tends to relate to polysemy and metaphor.

This essay discusses about the relationship between polysemy, metaphor and semantic change. The essay aims to

Polysemy is the phenomenon whereby a linguistic unit exhibits multiple distinct yet related meanings (Evans and Green, 2006). If a word has more than one sense, the basic sense can change hence making polysemy a condition for semantic change. For example, the word, ’APPEAR’, originally means to become manifest (as in The ghost appeared at 5 o’clock). However, in basic sense it means that the speaker has formed an opinion (as in The Liberal Democrats appear doomed).

Traditionally, this field was only restricted to the study of word meanings where a word has distinct meanings which are nevertheless related. For example, the word ‘body’ means the human body, a corpse, trunk of the human body or the main/central part of something. (Evans and Green, 2006) However, cognitive linguists state that polysemy is not just about word meanings but it is a fundamental part of human language. Polysemy deals with the multiple senses of the same phonological word and is provoked when the senses are related. Lexicographers tend to use the idea of ‘relatedness’ to identify polysemy (Saeed, John I., 1997: 64). The example below from the Collins English Dictionary shows different senses of the word hook, which are treated as polysemy and listed in one lexical

Metaphors allow words with specific meanings to take on additional, related meanings (Lakoff, 1987). For example, the word roadblock was traditionally used to refer only to a barricade set up on a road. However, with repeated metaphoric use, roadblock has also come to refer to any obstacle in meeting a goal (as in fear is a roadblock to success). Rise of metaphorical usage is a common semantic development caused by figurative usage of literal expressions often resulting in polysemy. For instance, to be ahead of someone literally means ‘to be physically in front of someone.’ However, figuratively it means ‘to be more successful’ or ‘advanced’ (Lakoff,