Teaching Synonymy

Essay # 104060

Education > Teaching Methods
Language > English: Linguistics
Linguistics

Teaching Synonymy

This paper discusses the problems of synonymy in the English language and suggests ways of teaching the correct usage.

1,930 words () | 6 sources | APA | 2008 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that some linguists insist that in order for true synonymy to exist the two words must be identical in meaning when they are transposed into the same sentence; however, this is often not possible because of the dual meanings that some words possess and the possibility that switching the words may have a different impact on the reader because of slang. The author points out that, when different cultures are considered in relation to words, the sameness may become confusing because the words or phrases are interpreted by people with differing cultural associations. The paper stresses that teaching synonymy requires students to work on activities, which are directly related to each concept. The author analyzes the contents of an included email and suggests teaching activities.

From the Paper:

"Klembe (1983) states that "utterances" may classify as synonymy. This is because utterances are expressions that may not have a specific meaning if broken down word by word, but they do have an implied meaning if they are interpreted as the speaker intended them to be understood. Field, (2001) states, however, that defining utterances as synonymy is much the same as arbitrarily insisting that a word or phrase has meaning when it does not.. Yet, Fine (1993) stipulates that Aristotle accepted both approaches as arguments and that ultimately how synonymy was determined was left to the listener. "

Sample of Sources Used:

Field, H. (2001). Truth and the absence of fact. Oxford: Clarendon.
Fine, G. (1993). On ideas: Aristotle's criticism of Plato's theory of forms. Oxford: Clarendon.
Klembe, E. (1983). Contemporary, analytic and linguistic philosophies. Buffalo: Prometheus.
Kriedler, C. (1998). Introducing English semantics. London: Routledge.
McCarthy, A. (1999). The origins of complex language: An inquiry into the evolutionary beginnings of sentences, syllables and truth. Oxford: Oxford Press.