Polysemous Expressions

Polysemous Expressions

Polysemy from Greek: πολυ-, poly-,

"many" and σῆμα, sêma, "sign") is the

capacity for a sign (e.g., a word, phrase,

etc.) or signs to have multiple related

meanings (sememes), i.e., a

large semantic field. It is usually

regarded as distinct from homonymy, in

which the multiple meanings of a word

may be unconnected or unrelated.

A polyseme is a word or phrase with

different, but related senses.

Examples of Polysemous

Expressions

Newspaper

1. The Newspaper fired its editor.

2. I spilled the coffee on the newspaper.

3. The newspaper has decided to change

its format.

Newspaper

1. The Newspaper (Company) fired its

editor.

2. I spilled the coffee on the newspaper

(The Physical newspaper).

3. The newspaper (The newspaper as an

edited work) has decided to change its

format.

Wood

1. This chair is made of wood.

2. In America, there are many woods.

Wood

1. This chair is made of wood (a piece of

tree).

2. In America, there are many woods (a

geographical area with many trees,

like a forest).

Homonymous Expressions

Homonym

In linguistics, a homonym is, in the

strict sense, one of a group of words

that share the same spelling and

pronunciation but have different

meanings.

The state of being a homonym is

called homonymy.

Examples of Homonymous

Expressions

Bow

1. To show respect

2. A Weapon (Bow and Arrow)

Comparison:

Term: Meaning: Spelling: Pronuncia

tion:

Homonym Different Same Same

Polyseme Different,

but related

Same Same or

different