Language in Text Reading Comprehension 1 Antonymy What

Language in Text & Reading Comprehension 1 Antonymy

What is Antonymy? Look at the different word classes:

Antonymy is oppositeness of meaning 2 1 long short fast 4 3 good slow bad easy difficult

But, the following are not antonyms. glad unhappiness daily easy night difficulty sad gladness

Types Antonyms 1. Gradable 2. Non-gradable

1. Gradable Antonyms This type represents relative values. cold hot

2. Non-gradable Antonyms This type represents definite values. dead alive

What about the following? • • flower / tulip bird / fowl Are they antonyms? Are they synonyms? No, they are not. They are neither antonyms nor synonyms.

Hypernymy and Hyponymy • A hypernym is a word whose meaning contains another one’s. • Flower is a hypernym of tulip, for its meaning encompasses the meaning of tulip. The latter’s meaning is less specific. • A hyponym is a word whose meaning is contained in another one’s. • Tulip is a hyponym of flower, for its meaning is included in the meaning of flower. The latter’s meaning is more general.

ILLUSTRATION A B A is a hypernym of B = The meaning of A encompasses that of B. A B B is a hyponym of A = The meaning of B is included in that of A.

Example coloured yellow vermilion carmine blue royal blue turquoise