Homework Semantics Assignment Instructions

LING 301 H OMEWORK : S EMANTICS A SSIGNMENT I NSTRUCTIONS O VERVIEW This assignment reviews semantic concepts like polysemy, homonymy, semantic relations, thematic roles, semantic ambiguity, and semantic features covered in this unit of the course. I NSTRUCTIONS Each exercise below provides specific instructions. Please read the instructions carefully and answer each question completely. Type your answers in the table provided, or when no table is present, type your answer below each question. If an exercise is reference inside parentheses, then it has been taken from your textbook. The total point value for this assignment is 60 points. 1. We have discussed semantic distinctions between polysemy and homonymy in this course. Which of these two relations, polysemy or homonymy, is exemplified by the forms below? Place an X in the column for your answer. Word and usage Polysemy Homonymy a. Leech : a bloodsucking worm; a hangar-on who seeks advantage X b. Range : a cooking stove; a series of mountains X c. Key : an instrument used to apply to a lock; an answer sheet for a test or assignment X d. Race : the act of running competitively; people belonging to the same genetic grouping X 2. Three semantic relations among sentences were also discussed in this course: paraphrase, entailment, and contradiction. Which of these relations is exemplified in the following pairs of sentences? Place an X in the column for your answer. Sentence pairs Paraphrase Entailment Contradiction a. I saw Timothy at the anniversary party. It was Timothy that I saw at the anniversary party. X b. Jules is Mary’s husband. Mary is married. X c. My pet cobra likes the taste of chocolate fudge. My pet cobra finds chocolate fudge taste. X Page 1 of 4

LING 301 d. Vera is an only child. Olga is Vera’s sister. X e. It is fifty miles to the nearest service station. The nearest service station is fifty miles away. X f. My cousin Bryan teaches at the community college for a living. My cousin Bryan is a teacher. X 3. In discussing the nature of meaning, we noted that it is necessary to distinguish between sense and reference. Describe the senses and the references of each of these phrases. The first one has been done for you as an example. Statement Sense Reference The first president of the United States U.S. head of state George Washington a. Day commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ Christian holiday Easter b. The capital of Virginia Important city in VA Richmond c. Female religious authority in ancient Jewish culture (referenced in the Old Testament) An appointed female leader of Israel chrged with upholding the 10 comandments Deborah d. My linguistics professor Liberty University Professor Sharon Shipley 4. Each NP in the following sentences has a thematic role that represents the part that its referent plays in the situation described by the sentence. Using the terms described in class, label the thematic role of each NP in these sentences and identify the assigner for each thematic role. Example Bill wrote a novel in the park . agent theme location a. Sarah drove that bus from Lynchburg to Roanoke. Agent theme source goal b. The children are eating their ice cream with spoons. agent theme instrument c. Sally mailed her nephew a parcel. agent theme instrument d. Ginger scribbled her address on the paper with a pen. Page 2 of 4

LING 301 (2) idea, love, charity, sincerity, bravery, fear The (1) words are: tangible The (2) words are: non tangible c. (1) pine, elm, ash, weeping willow, sycamore (2) rose, dandelion, aster, tulip, daisy The (1) and (2) words are: types of plants The (1) words are: types of trees The (2) words are: types of flowers d. (1) walk, run, skip, jump, hop, swim (2) fly, skate, ski, ride, cycle, canoe, hang glide The (1) and (2) words are: action verbs The (1) words are: sports The (2) words are: athletic activities Page 4 of 4