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Understanding Semantics and Signs

This document provides an overview of semantics from various experts and perspectives. It defines semantics as the study of meaning in language. Specifically: - Semantics examines the relationship between linguistic signs or symbols and their meanings. It can be divided into lexical, grammatical, syntactic, and intentional semantics. - Semiotics is related to semantics as it studies signs and symbols more broadly. Signs can be icons, indexes, or symbols depending on their relationship to what they represent. - Semantic semiotics describes how the intended meaning of a sign is conveyed and interpreted between speakers and listeners. - Key semantic terms are discussed, such as lexeme, which refers to a meaningful linguistic unit, and how semantics

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
61 views11 pages

Understanding Semantics and Signs

This document provides an overview of semantics from various experts and perspectives. It defines semantics as the study of meaning in language. Specifically: - Semantics examines the relationship between linguistic signs or symbols and their meanings. It can be divided into lexical, grammatical, syntactic, and intentional semantics. - Semiotics is related to semantics as it studies signs and symbols more broadly. Signs can be icons, indexes, or symbols depending on their relationship to what they represent. - Semantic semiotics describes how the intended meaning of a sign is conveyed and interpreted between speakers and listeners. - Key semantic terms are discussed, such as lexeme, which refers to a meaningful linguistic unit, and how semantics

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Ayu Silalahi
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© All Rights Reserved
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“ SEMANTICS ”

Arranged By :

1. Nispa Wahni Siregar


2. Yurita Ariyani Rumapea
3. Ade Rosalina
4. Rhuzilia Utari Ritonga

Supporting Lecturer :
Gabby Maureen Pricilia,[Link].,M,Hum.

INSTITUT PENDIDIKAN TAPANULI SELATAN


FAKULTAS PENDIDIKAN ILMU PENGETAHUAN SOSIAL DAN BAHASA
PENDIDIKAN BAHASA INGGRIS T.A 2022/2023
FOREWORD

Praise and gratitude to God Almighty for His blessings, and we were given the
opportunity to compile a paper entitled "Semantics" properly and correctly and on
time.
This paper is structured so that readers can find out how important semantics is in
learning English in everyday life.
This paper was prepared by various parties. Both from outside and from the
parties concerned themselves and because of the help of God Almighty, this paper
has finally been completed.
The authors also thank the lecturers for semantic and pragmatic courses who have
assisted in the preparation of this paper. Hopefully this paper can provide a
broader insight to the readers. although this paper has advantages and
disadvantages. For suggestions and please constituency. Thank you
PRELIMINARY

Language is a communication tool that cannot be separated from the meaning or


meaning of every word that is arbitrary (arbitrary, changing, not fixed, whichever
you like).This means that there is no mandatory relationship between the language
symbol (which is in the form of sound) and the concept or understanding intended
by the symbol (Chaer, 2007:45).

As a dynamic element, language is always analyzed and studied with various


approaches, including the meaning approach, while semantics is a component of
language that cannot be separated from linguistic [Link] discussing
meaning, the discussion of linguistics is not considered complete because in fact
the act of speaking is nothing but an attempt to convey those
[Link] utterances have no meaning at all (Parera, 2004:17).
DISCUSSION
A. Definition of Semantics
Semantics comes from the Greek ‘sema’ (noun) which means ‘sign’ or
‘symbol’.The verb is ‘semaino’ which means ‘marking’ or ‘symbolizing’. What is
meant by signs or symbols here are linguistic signs (French: signélinguistique).The
following are some of the meanings of semantics according to experts, consisting
of:
a. According to Ferdinand de Saussure (1966)
Put forward semantics, which consists of (1) a component that interprets,
which is in the form of sound forms of language and (2) a component that is
interpreted or the meaning of the first [Link] two components are signs
or symbols, while what is marked or what is symbolized is something different
outside the language commonly called the referent or the thing designated.
b. According to Tarigan (1985: 2)
Saying that semantics can be used in a broad sense and in a narrow
[Link] in a narrow sense can be interpreted as a study of the relationship
of signs with objects which are the container for the application of these signs.
c. According to Verharr (2001: 384)
It can be divided into two, namely grammatical semantics and lexical
[Link] term semantics is used by linguists to refer to a branch of language
science that moves at the level of meaning or language science that studies
meaning.
d. According to Chaer (2009: 6-11)
Semantics based on the level or part of the language that is the object of
investigation can be divided into four, namely (1) lexical semantics which is a type
of semantic whose research object is the lexicon of a language, (2) grammatical
semantics which is a type of semantic whose research object is the meaning-
grammatical meaning from the morphological level, (3) syntactic semantics which
is a type of semantic whose research targets rely on matters related to syntax, (4)
semantics of intent which is a type of semantics relating to the use of stylistic forms
of language, such as metaphors,irony, litotes, and so on.E. According to Charles
Morrist
Suggests that semantics examines “the relations of signs with objects which
are the container for the application of these signs”.Semantics is a branch of
linguistics that studies the meaning of words and sentences.A person’s linguistic
ability is seen based on the language skills they [Link], understanding a
person’s language skills is distinguished based on his knowledge of the language,
such as how to express words, how to make sentences and also about the meaning
of a word and the sentence itself.
Thus, linguistics or linguistics has several levels of analysis to represent some
of the abilities mentioned [Link] example, phonology is the science that studies
sounds in language, syntax is the science that studies how words are formed into a
sentence, and semantics is the science that studies the meaning of words and
sentences in [Link] understanding of semantic knowledge is very important
for the study of language acquisition (how language users gain an understanding of
the meaning of a word or sentence, as speakers and writers, listeners and readers).
When someone learns a language from several media be it books, radio or
TV, there are several problems that may be [Link] learning a language from a
book, it will be easier to understand the meaning than how to pronounce it, when
learning through radio it will be easier to understand how to pronounce it than
understanding what is meant, when learning from TV it will be easy to understand
the meaning and how to pronounce it but not necessarily understand the form of the
[Link] learned sentences.
e. Semantics and Semiotics
Language will never be separated from the elements of signs and symbols,
because signs and symbols are a unit that can represent linguistic knowledge, both
verbal and [Link] is a branch of science that deals with the study of
signs and everything related to signs, such as sign systems and processes that apply
to the use of signs.
 Those vultures mean there’s a dead animal up ahead
 His high temperature may mean he has a virus
 The red flag means it’s dangerous to swim
 Those strips on his uniform mean that he is a sergent.
Some of the examples of sentences above show the existence of semiotic
functions in language. The word mean in the sentence above has several uses in the
form of cause and effect, and is also an agreed public [Link] semiotics there is the
term sign and the marked is used to show the sign and the object it represents.
[Link] divides it into three parts, namely icons, indexes and [Link]
of the similarity between the sign and the [Link] are images and real
[Link] index indicates a close relationship between the sign and the signified, such
as smoke and fire, while the symbol indicates a conventional relationship between
the sign and the signified, such as the use of black clothes when mourning.
Sematic Semiotics describes the meaning of a sign in accordance with the
‘meaning’ [Link] semiotics is a review of the sign system that can be
in accordance with the meaning [Link] language, semantic semiotics is the
embodiment of the meaning to be conveyed by the speaker and conveyed through
the expression of its [Link] form will be interpreted again as a result of
perception by the [Link] embodiment of the meaning of a language can be
said to be successful if the meaning or ‘meaning’ that the speaker wants to convey
through the sentence can be understood and accepted appropriately by the listener,
if the expression that the speaker wants to convey is the same as the listener’s
perception
Example:
An ambulance cruising down the highway blaring its siren with a red light
swirling, signaling that an injured person has been rushed to the [Link]
interpretation of this sign is different if the siren comes from a police car driving in
front of the entourage of dignitaries, because the siren indicates that a dignitary is
[Link], sirens accompanied by red lights swirling in different
interpretations if it comes from a fire engine
f. Basic semantic terms
Semantics (from Greek: semantikos, giving sign, important, from the word
sema, sign) is a branch of linguistics that studies the meaning contained in a
language, code, or other type of [Link] other words, semantics is the
study of [Link] to the theory developed from the view of Ferdinand de
Saussure, meaning is the ‘understanding’ or ‘concept’ that is owned or contained in
a linguistic [Link] to de Saussure, every linguistic sign consists of two
elements, namely (1) which is interpreted (French: signifie, English: signified) and
(2) which means (French: signifiant, English: signifier).What is interpreted
(signifie, signified) is actually nothing but the concept or meaning of a sound-
[Link], what is interpreted (signifiant or signifier) are the sounds formed
from the phonemes of the language in [Link] other words, every linguistic sign
consists of elements of sound and elements of [Link] of these elements are
in-language (intralingual) elements which usually refer to or refer to something
referent which is an extralingual (extralingual) element.
In the field of semantics, the term commonly used for sign-linguistics is
lexeme, which is commonly defined as a word or phrase which is a meaningful unit
(Harimurti, 1982:98).While the term word, which is commonly defined as a
language unit that can stand alone which can occur from a single morpheme or a
combination of morphemes (Harimurti, 1982: 76) is a term in the field of grammar.
What needs to be understood is that not all words or lexemes have concrete
references in the real [Link] example, lexemes such as religion, love, culture,
and justice cannot be shown as concrete [Link] its use in speech, the real
meaning of the word or lexeme is often, and maybe also usually, regardless of the
basic meaning or concept and also from its reference.
g. Understanding of meaning, sign and symbol
1) Sign
The concept of the sign itself is the basis of all communication.A sign will
mean something other than [Link] this regard, Levinson (1983), introduced three
basic linguistic concepts, namely syntax, semantics, and [Link] studies
the formal relationship between signs, semantics studies the relationship between
signs and sign objects, and pragmatics studies the relationship between signs and
sign [Link] three areas treat and study signs in different ways.
In this discussion, we will discuss semantics as the relationship between sign
and sign [Link] only are language and communication systems composed of
signs, but as far as the human mind is concerned, the world itself is also composed
entirely of [Link] signs, humans will not be able to establish a relationship
with the existing [Link] to KBBI, a sign is an address or something that
describes something.A sign can be said to be a substitute for something
[Link], these signs need to be explained.
Sign is the main term known in semantic [Link] (2010) argues that a
sign is anything that can be used for something else.A sign is a material object,
action, or event that can be observed through the [Link] this context, each
character consists of a signifier and a signified (using Saussure’s term).
Pierce who came from the disciplines of linguistics and logic popularized
three types of signs based on their objects, namely (1) icons, (2) indexes, and (3)
[Link] are signs that show the relationship between the signifier and the
signified according to their natural [Link] other words, an icon is a relationship
between a sign and a similar object or reference, such as the sound of a cat
[Link] is a sign that shows a sign of a natural relationship between a sign
and a causal sign (causal relationship) or a sign that is directly related to reality, for
example the term shoes are used for [Link] symbol is a sign that shows the
natural relationship between the signifier and the signified, the relationship between
the two is arbitrary, the relationship is based on mutual agreement or agreement in
[Link] are used to indicate something, the translator interprets it based on his
[Link] is based on the fact that a sign is a brand which may be personal,
social, or specific according to the context.
2) Meaning
In the field of linguistics, one of the sciences that studies meaning is
[Link] a subject of study in semantic linguistics, meaning exists at all or all
levels of construction, meaning is at the level of phonology, morphology, and
[Link] language used for daily interaction varies greatly, both in function and
[Link] level of language use used in an interaction is of course attached to the
use of words or sentences that lead to meaning, which is the scope of semantic
[Link] fact, the question of meaning is indeed very difficult, and is the most
ambiguous and controversial term in language [Link] meaning is a matter of
language, the relationship and its relationship with aspects of human life is very
close.
The meaning of the word is the relationship between the utterance and the
meaning in a [Link] put, the meaning of the word is the meaning contained in
a word, [Link] to the Big Indonesian Dictionary (KBBI), meaning is the
understanding given to a linguistic four
Etymologically, semantics comes from the Greek, namely sema which means
[Link] this discussion, we will get to know firsthand about the concept of [Link]
discussion is a continuation of the previous discussion, namely the nature of
[Link] that, we will also discuss the meaning, references, symbols and
conceptualization of meaning in [Link] following is an explanation of these
sections.
Regarding meaning, there are several experts who formulate the relationship
between signs, objects, and users in the form of a triangular [Link],
the triangular meaning theory was developed to explain the occurrence of
[Link] of the experts who developed the triangle theory of meaning is
[Link] to Pierce, a sign that refers to something outside itself, namely an
object, will affect the mind of the wearer because of the relationship between its
elements
If combined with Saussure’s concept of signifier and signified, then the
meaning is actually closer to the [Link] basically, meaning is the result of
a [Link] is the result of the tag that will make [Link] is not tied to words, but
makes sense in people’s [Link], there is no direct relationship between the
object and the symbols used to represent [Link] we say, for example, my money
was just stolen,” the experience is real, but no one can feel the [Link] relationship
appears in the mind of the speaker.
Meaning is not an absolute static concept that can be found in message
[Link] is the result of dynamic interaction between symbols,
explanatory words, and [Link] is given by history and can change over
[Link] is related to human [Link] relationship between the three
dimensions above and the object shows that the reference to the communication
symbol is based on the experience and education of the object indicated by the
symbol.
In a linguistic context, the meaning of a word can not only be explained by its
reference, but also through other aspects of meaning, these aspects are considered as
characteristics of a word that is separate from other words in the language
[Link] meaning of a word is determined by the presence of other
[Link], the meaning of this word can be changed by the appearance of this
[Link] of the meanings and meanings of words depend on the presence of
other words in the language, or on the speaker’s mastery of words with related
semantic [Link] to Chaer (1995), meaning can be distinguished on the
basis of several criteria and points of [Link] on the type of semantics, meaning
can be divided into lexical meaning and grammatical meaning.
3) Symbol
A coat of arms is a sign that is used to symbolize something [Link] in
semantics are concepts that represent a [Link] are various symbols in
language, namely (1) symbols of objects, (2) symbols of color, (3) symbols of
sound, which represent the special meaning of the sound of a musical instrument or
certain combination of sounds, and (4) symbol of atmosphere, which means
describing something., event, or situation with something else.
4) Natural sign
Natural signs;they communicate to someone All sorts of sights, sounds and
smells can be natural signs;they communicate to someone who observes and can
interpret but their messages are unintentional, the by-products of various
[Link] natural signs, conventional signs [Link] examples of natural
signs are steps on the ground, tree growth rings, chemical elements in air or water,
seasonal changes in the weather, the position of the sun, the size, shape, and colorof
objects and etcetera.A Natural Sign is an accidental that is used to cancel another
accidental (a sharp, flat, double sharp or double flat).A Natural is written before the
note (and after the letter name).Aug 17, 2020
5) Conventional sign
Conventional signs are those signs that are representative of different features
like mountains, roads, railways, cities, towns, capitals, [Link] are depicted in
the forms of lines, different colors and [Link] are simple signs and are not
drawn to [Link] method or product is one that is usually used or that
has been in use for a long time.
Different between natural and conventions sign
Unlike natural signs, conventional signs have human senders as well as
human receivers;each one has an intention and an [Link] message may
be personal as when a friend rings your telephone or quite impersonal and general,
like the warning siren on a speeding ambulance.

Common questions

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In semiotic theory, C.S. Pierce identifies three types of signs: icons, indexes, and symbols. Icons are signs that resemble what they represent, having a direct visual similarity, such as a portrait . Indexes have a direct, causal relationship to what they represent, like smoke indicating fire . Symbols have an arbitrary or conventional relationship with what they signify, like language, where meanings are agreed upon by users, such as wearing black for mourning . Each type represents a different way signs convey meaning, with varying degrees of directness and interpretation required .

Lexical meaning refers to the inherent meaning of a word or lexeme independent of syntactic considerations, often derived from the dictionary definitions or established usage . It conveys the fundamental concept or reference associated with a word, such as 'tree' meaning a perennial plant. Grammatical meaning, on the other hand, arises from the word's use in a sentence and its grammatical form, engaging the rules of syntax and morphology to convey additional information, such as tense, number, or gender . While lexical meaning provides the core content, grammatical meaning frames it within a syntactic context, facilitating nuanced and contextually relevant communication .

Semantics and pragmatics differ in their approaches to understanding meaning in communication. Semantics focuses on the inherent meaning of words, sentences, and phrases within a language’s structure, concerning itself with how language elements represent and convey concepts in a literal sense . Pragmatics, however, explores how context influences the interpretation of meaning, examining how speaker intent, listener interpretation, and situational factors modify the conveyed meaning beyond its literal expression . While semantics asks what a sentence means, pragmatics considers what someone means by using that sentence in a particular context, highlighting the role of interpretation and context in communication .

The triangle theory of meaning posits that a sign refers to something beyond itself, which is the object, and it affects the interpreter’s mind based on the relationship between its elements . According to this theory, a sign involves a triangular relationship with its object (the real-world referent) and the interpreter (the one interpreting the sign). The sign serves as an intermediary, bringing together the object and the interpreter's understanding, thus forming a complete communicative process . This perspective highlights how meaning is not a static attribute of signs but a dynamic interaction involving interpretation, context, and the objective reference .

Semiotics focuses on the study of signs and sign systems, exploring how signs represent various meanings, whether through icons, indexes, or symbols . Semantics, a branch of linguistics, specifically studies the meaning contained within a language, analyzing the relationship between linguistic signs (signifiers and signifieds) and their meanings . While semiotics addresses how signs convey meaning through their relationships with objects, semantics investigates the meaning within language's structure, like phonology, morphology, and syntax. Thus, semiotics has a broader scope, encompassing all signs, whereas semantics specifically addresses linguistic meaning .

Ferdinand de Saussure's theory explains linguistic meaning through the relationship between the 'signifier' and the 'signified'. The 'signifier' refers to the sound pattern or the form of the word, while the 'signified' denotes the concept or meaning that the signifier represents . The association of a signifier with a signified results in a 'linguistic sign', which constitutes the basic unit of meaning in a language. This theory highlights that meaning is not inherent but rather emerges from the relationship between the signifier and the signified, and the context of its use .

The study of semantics is essential for understanding human communication because it investigates meaning at all language construction levels—phonology, morphology, and syntax—ultimately facilitating effective discourse . Semantics provides insights into how individuals convey thoughts, emotions, and concepts, allowing for precise communication in diverse contexts. It also addresses how meanings can shift based on linguistic and situational contexts, making it crucial for interpretation and mutual understanding in interaction . By examining semantic nuances, researchers can better grasp language's role in cognitive processes, culture, and social interaction, significantly enhancing comprehension of language's function in human life .

The interpretation of signs can significantly change depending on context, as shown with the example of sirens. An ambulance siren with a red light signals urgency and an injured person being rushed to the hospital. However, the same siren from a police car might indicate the presence of dignitaries requiring a clear path. A fire engine siren suggests an emergency related to fire . These examples demonstrate how context influences the perceived meaning of signs; though the auditory and visual stimulus (siren and lights) remain the same, the surrounding situation and associated knowledge lead to different interpretations of the sign's meaning .

Natural signs differ from conventional signs in that they do not have intentional human senders, and their messages are unintended by-products of natural phenomena, like smoke signaling fire or tree rings indicating age . Interpretation of natural signs relies on observation and inference by the receiver. In contrast, conventional signs are intentionally created and interpreted by individuals, involving a sender-receiver dynamic, such as traffic signals or written language, requiring shared understanding among users . This distinction emphasizes how intent and human involvement shape the creation and interpretation of signs in communication .

In semantics, meaning is studied at various linguistic levels, including phonology, morphology, and syntax . Phonology deals with the sound structure, morphology examines the formation of words, and syntax addresses sentence structure. These levels contribute to a comprehensive understanding of how meaning is constructed and conveyed in language. Meaning in semantics is integral to human interaction, as it underpins communication, enabling individuals to convey and interpret messages accurately. The study of semantics thus examines how linguistic elements work together to create meaningful discourse .

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