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Synonymy
6.3
Synonymy
Synonymy
is one of the characteristic features of the vocabulary of natural languages.
English as a highly developed language is known for its copious stock
of synonyms. Even as early as the Anglo-Saxon period, the use of synonyms
to add to the variety of language was noticeable. As Jespersen noted in
his book Growth and Structure of the English Language, the wealth
of synonymous terms found in Old English poetry is astonishing. For example,
in Beowulf alone, there were at least thirty-six words used for
'hero' and 'prince', seventeen expressions found used for 'sea', plus
thirteen more from other poems, and eleven words for 'ship' or 'boat',
plus sixteen more in other poems (ninth edition, p.53). However, in present-day
English, most of these terms have disappeared because we no longer need
them.
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Definition
6.3.1
Definition of Synonyms
Synonyms
can be defined as words different in sound and spelling but nearly alike
or exactly the same in meaning. Reasonable as it sounds, this definition
is subject to disagreement. The focal point is what is meant by meaning.
As we have already known (See Word Meaning), meaning is a composite consisting
of different types. Does the word 'meaning' mean one type or the total
of all the different types? If one chooses any group of synonyms and analyses
them, one will find different shades of meaning. For example, end/terminate/close
are all modes of ending, but to terminate is to 'end finally' and
to close is to 'end gradually'.
Difference
is also apparent in pairs of maid/girl, monkey/imitate,
and generous/extravagant. Although they denote similar concept,
they differ in stylistic appropriateness and affective values.
Therefore, a better definition might be `one of two or more words in the
English language which have the same or very nearly the same essential
meaning.'(WNDS) In other words, synonyms share a likeness in denotation
as well as in part of speech. A verb cannot have an adjective as its synonym,
neither can an adverb take a noun as its synonym: *end/final or
*brother/fraternally.
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Types
6.3.2 Types of Synonyms
Synonyms
can be classified into two major groups: absolute
synonyms and relative
synonyms.
1.
Absolute synonyms also known as complete synonyms are words which
are identical in meaning in all its aspects, i.e. both in grammatical
meaning and lexical meaning, including conceptual and associative meanings.
Synonyms of this type are interchangeable in every way. It is observed
that absolute synonyms are rare in natural languages and some people even
hold that such synonyms are non-existent. Absolute synonyms are restricted
to highly specialized vocabulary, such as scarlet-fever /scarlatina
in medicine, and composition/compounding in lexicology, etc.
2.
Relative synonyms also called near-synonyms are similar or nearly
the same in denotation, but embrace different shades of meaning or different
degrees of a given quality. Take change/ alter /vary for example.
To change a thing is to put another thing in its place; to alter
a thing is to make it different from which it was before; to vary
a thing is to alter it in different manner and at different times, e.g.
'A man changes his habits, alters his conduct, and varies
his manner of speaking.' Try to choose the right word to fill each of
the blanks.
change-alter
Yesterday
I bought a coat, but it was too big, so I took it back and _______ it.
Yesterday
I bought a coat, but it was too big, so I took it to the tailor and _______
it
Look
at stagger/reel/totter. Stagger implies unsteady movement
characterized by a loss of balance and failure to maintain a fixed course,
e.g. stagger under a heavy load; reel suggests a swaying
or lurching so as to appear on the verge of falling, e.g. The drunken
man reeled down the hall; totter indicates the uncertain,
faltering steps of a feeble old person or of an infant learning to walk.
Silent/tacit, shine/glitter /sparkle/glare, different/various, idle
/lazy/indolent, strange/odd/queer, large/huge/tremendous /colossal
and the like all belong to this group. The concept 笑 can be expressed
in a variety of ways, but each is different from the rest: laugh, smile,
grin, chuckle, giggle, chortle, titter, snigger, guffaw, cackle, roar.
6.3.3
Sources of Synonyms
1.
Borrowing. Modern English is extremely rich in synonyms, which
come from different sources. The most important source is perhaps borrowing.
As Baugh says, 'the richness of English in synonyms is largely due to
the happy mingling of Latin, French and native elements.'(p.186) As a
result of borrowing, words of native origin form many couplets and triplets
with those from other languages, e.g.
Native
Foreign
room
chamber
foe
enemy
help
aid
leave
depart
wise
sage
bodily
corporal
earthly
terrestrial
warlike
bellicose
buy
purchase
Native
French
Latin
ask
question
interrogate
fast
firm
secure
fire
flame
conflagration
fear
terror
trepidation
holy
sacred consecrated
goodness
virtue
probity
time
age epoch
2.
Dialects and regional English, e.g.
railway
(BrE) railroad
(AmE)
mother
(BrE) minny
(ScotE)
charm
(BrE) glamour
(ScotE)
ranch
(AmE) run
(AusE)
job
(StandE) gig
(BlackE)
jim
(BlackE) male
person (StandE)
3.
Figurative and euphemistic use of words, e.g.
occupation
(profession)
walk of life (fig)
dreamer
star-gazer
(fig)
drunk
elevated
(euph)
lie
distort the
fact (euph)
4.
Coincidence with idiomatic expressions, e.g.
win
gain
the upper hand
decide
make up one's
mind
finish
get
through
hesitate
be
in two minds
help
lend one a hand
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