Semantics=study of meaning. Included,how meaning is constructed, illustrated, clarified...

Words/lexemes=a lexical unit may contain more than 1 word the term lexeme coined , usually a single word but can be a phrase, in which the meaning belongs to the whole rather than its parts, e.g. v phrases like tune in, turn on. Or noun phrases like, a cock up. Denotation-core meaning of word/dic def, sometimes these are fixed,sun, rare since most words change over t. Thus denotation related to connotation leading to semantic change. Connotation connected to culture, concerns feeling caused by words. When become est in common use, new denotation recorded in dics. vicious. Originally from vice, meaning very wicked but now=fierce, applies also to phrase(hes no poodle vs denotation of just poodle) Ambiguity occurs when a language element has more than 1 meaning, if occurs in single word =lexical ambiguity, if in clause/sentence=grammatical or structural ambiguity. Like a poster saying gay society double meaning, structural ambiguity often in headlines. Churchill flies back to front. Often this accomplished by removing punctuations. Stylistic features. Metaphor-compares things,doesnt show in form (as/like/more than=similie,fat as a, like two pees. Most words in England/other lang=metaphors of some kind,original languages have original word,new has one aspect/use of this meaning. hippopots Greek=river horse, Semantic fields, in studying lexicons we can group together lexemes that relate. Cat/puss/meow.. Occupy same semantic field. Some words occupy many fields. Synonyms /antonym (Greek=same/apposed name) most words dont have antonyms, a cat cant be defined as not a dog, Some words found together paired to form a semantic unit or lexeme, false is often paired with passport ...teeth.. These pairs are known as collocations. When these become grouped in almost a predictable way, they become known as fixed expressions. Jewel in the crown, criminal mastermind. When become so well rooted in the language that the meaning of the component words is ignored /metaphorical meaning not even visualised, they are dead metaphors, such groups are now termed as idioms, their meanings are not found in their parts. Skin a cat/bed of roses/piece of cake. Idiomatic language-non literal use of language, lost for words..(Difficult for learners) Etymology=study /classification of word origins in regard to form.meaning.ie historical and linguistic origin; Polyseme=many meaning. This happens when a lexeme has a wide range of meanings, paper-writing material/newspaper/research Homonyms =same lexeme with same form, either written/spoken or both. Bank, elevated. Homophone=pronunciation same but spelling different. Flew/flu Homograph=standard spelling the same but pronunciation different, wind