Semem

Semem is a term in linguistic semantics and describes a semantic unit resulting from individual semants .

In detail, the term depends on the theory of the respective linguistic school.

The semem as a specific combination of semen

The semem as a semantic unit is perceived as a specific combination of semants and semantic features (also: feature bundles ).

• Example: The semem of the word “flow” includes semantic characteristics such as [concrete], [natural], [flowing], [relatively large]; The semem of “river” shares three of these characteristics with that of “brook”, but differs from this in the characteristic [relatively large].

This offers an opportunity to systematically describe the semantic side of word fields .

The smallest element of meaning of a semem is the noem (pronounced Noēm). According to Leonard Bloomfield , the meaning carried by the noem is part of a glossary , which represents the smallest linguistic unit.

The semem as a specific meaning and its relation to the lexeme

The term semem has a specific meaning.

The relationship to the term lexeme depends on how you define the term lexeme .

The terms semem and lexeme are synonyms if a lexeme is only supposed to have one terminological meaning. The terms sememe and lexeme are often used synonymously - it must be left open whether this is based on a terminological decision or carelessness.

If the unit of a lexeme is not defined by the unit of its meaning, i.e. there can be a lexeme with several meanings (lexeme in the broader semantic sense), a semem makes up a partial aspect of a lexeme in the sense of an overall meaning.

A semem is then the partial meaning ( reading , meaning variant , the “respectively updated meaning”) of an ambiguous lexeme.

In the case of a unique lexeme, sememe and lexeme coincide. A clear lexeme therefore only has one sememe.

The specific application of this conceptual grid depends in detail on how the concept of meaning is concretely understood. While the lexeme tends - possibly for lexicographical reasons - to assume an independent meaning only in the case of basic meanings, the concept of the sememe allows any fine differentiation.

See also

• Component analysis

literature

• Wilfried Kürschner: Grammatical Compendium. Systematic index of basic grammatical terms. 3. Edition. Francke, Tübingen / Basel 1997, ISBN 3-8252-1526-1 .

Web links

Wiktionary: Semem  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations

Individual evidence

1. ↑ In detail Bußmann: Lexicon of Linguistics. 3rd edition (2002): Semem
2. ^ Gustav H. Blanke: Introduction to semantic analysis. Hueber, Munich 1973, p. 70.
3. ↑ Harro Gross: Introduction to German Linguistics. 3rd, revised. and exp. Edition, revised by Klaus Fischer. Iudicium, Munich 1998, ISBN 3-89129-240-6 , pp. 119f.
4. ^ "Smallest meaningful unit of linguistic signaling: glosseme ; the meaning of a glosseme is a noeme "(Bloomfield 1933: 264)
5. ^ So Ernst, Peter: German Linguistics. WUV, Vienna 2008 (UTB; 2541), p. 204.
6. ↑ Schlaefer, Michael: lexicology and lexicography. 2nd Edition. Schmidt, Berlin 2009, p. 12; Helmut Rehbock: Semem. In: Helmut Glück (Hrsg.): Metzler Lexikon Sprache. 4th edition. Metzler, Stuttgart / Weimar 2010.
7. ^ Siegfried Heusinger: The Lexic of German Contemporary Language. An introduction. W. Fink, Munich 2004 (UTB 2491), p. 22.