Blog #3: Semantics
Blog #3: Semantics
Introduction
Stop me if you've heard this one before: "It's just semantics" or "Just arguing semantics." You probably heard someone say this, but maybe you're not sure what semantics even is. Well, semantics is a branch of linguistics, our favorite subject here, that refers to the meaning and interpretation of words. Lot to chew on, huh? Well, anyway, after scouring the internet for some reliable sources, which was harder than I'd thought it would be, this blog entry will be citing "Semantics: Crash Course Linguistics #5", "How Semantics Works" by Emily Sobo, and "18 Semantics Examples" by Viktoriya Sus.
Crash Course is a YouTube page ran by author John Green that has consistently posted educational videos on various subjects in different content areas, from English to world history to science, for over a decade. Sobo's article was found after much Google searching, but has a thorough explanation of semantics. Sus's article was discovered when looking for visual elements to enhance this blog; however, it also informs how we use semantics to create meaning.
So, what are semantics??
While a dictionary can give you the literal definition of a word, semantics is the "area of linguistics" that involves "meaning" and the ways in which we can describe or define that meaning ("Semantics: Crash Course Linguistics #5", 00:01:05- 00:01:42). Synonyms and antonyms—words that are similar or opposites, respectively—form a semantic relationship, meaning they often contrast with one another. Words also change meaning over time, even if their literal definitions are the same. For example, you may imagine a chair to have four legs, but there are chairs that have three legs or an adjustable desk chair; this applies to words, as well. Some words, such as "the" or "if" cannot be interpreted differently, they're set words that are described based on how they're being used.
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| Semantics, as explained by Sus in her article. |
Additionally, semantics are "arbitrary" in that we're not really sure how we came to call trees "trees" or boxes "boxes"; yet, when we say or hear these words, we know exactly what they're referring to and what they mean (Sabo). A tree is a tree. While word context does change, there are actually multiple meanings to certain words, such as "head." Called a polysemy, a word like "head" can mean an actual anatomical head, the head of a company or business, or the head of a table, even (Sabo). Our brains track this information and process it, so when we hear these words in different contexts, we can understand how it is being used. Another type of semantics relationship is a hypernym, which is a term for a "group of words", such as how a fruit consists of apples, oranges, or grapes (Sabo).
Semantics also consists of slang, such as "lit", idioms like "it's raining cats and dogs!", and irony like when someone sarcastically says "What a great day I'm having" (Sus). Sus describes how semantics is a wide area that involves all these subcategories that enhance our understanding of words. As noted, somehow we all understand these vastly different meanings. For example, the word lit typically means something that has been given lighting or is burning, but through slang, we also know it to mean exciting. The list goes on and on! Yet these definitions are inexplicably distinguishable to us.
Critical Analysis
CrashCourse is a fairly reliable source, one that I, fellow classmates, and even a multitude of teachers have utilized throughout my entire education. Their videos have been introduced to countless students in classrooms to visually explain a given subject. In this case, semantics are explained in simple terms for anyone to pick up and understand. Using this source as the basis of my understanding of semantics makes it a good source. Sus's article, "18 Semantics Examples," has a more in-depth analysis of semantics in linguistics, describing how irony, emojis, sarcasm, figurative language, etc. all add to or affect a word's understood meaning. Sus is very informative in this manner, because semantics clearly encompasses a lot of elements. While not traditionally educational, Sus's article will certainly give most readers an easy understanding of how semantics works with the credibility of someone with a Master's degree. Meanwhile, Sabo's "How Semantics Works" is a source that suggests word meanings change over time, but semantics gives us an idea of how these words function or what they're usually supposed to mean. However, Sabo does not give many examples of semantics and how they can be understood, simply providing the information. Sabo's credibility comes from her Ph.D from the University of Michigan.
Connection to Coursework
Semantics is a linguistic term that I've heard many, many times. Only vaguely described and swiftly mentioned, I realized that I don't really understand what semantics is. Is it a definition? A set of words? I don't know! Even in this course, it hasn't been mentioned in the textbook so far that I can see, but it's like a ghost hanging around in the course. Being an English major, I would feel uneducated oddly enough, if I didn't truly understand what semantics means. So, to save face, this blog has served just that purpose. As I acknowledged in my opening lines of this blog, it's a term I've heard over and over, but only now do I realize semantics is something I know much about, even if I didn't realize it yet. I knew what synonyms and antonyms are, how words have different meanings, and how context changes this meaning.
Personal Reflection
Having done this blog entry, for my own personal use, I can now safely say I know antonyms and synonyms form semantic relationships (of which there are so many), hyperboles and other figurative language can change how words are understood, and semantics is just the way we understand words. What they truly mean, their denotation (dictionary meaning), their implications, etc. I feel smarter knowing this, because for so long I just went by in life without knowing what the term meant; I just knew it had something to do with English words. As a parent, teacher, and learner, this information gives me a means of explaining the concept of semantics to someone else. Perhaps not expertly, but I can summarize what semantics is. As an aspiring English teacher, that's definitely a good thing. I am scared of being asked about something in the English field of study that I won't potentially have an answer to, or any knowledge about. So, this is one term that I can add to my mental toolbox on English linguistics.
Citations
Sabo, Emily. “How Semantics Works.” Mango Languages, 30 Aug. 2024, mangolanguages.com/resources/learn/general/linguistics-101/how-semantics-works.
"Semantics: Crash Course Linguistics #5." YouTube, uploaded by CrashCourse, 9 October 2020,
Sus, Viktoriya. “18 Semantics Examples.” Helpful Professor, 13 June 2023,
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