COMPONENTIAL ANALYSIS

Objectives:

• Define componential analysis of semantics

• Discuss componential analysis in terms of conceptual
and connotational meaning
• Explain the role of context in understanding the
conceptual and connotational meaning
• Share experiences that shows the flow of
communication using conceptual and connotational
meaning
Session Contents:

• Componential analysis of semantics

• Conceptual and connotational meaning of language
• The role of context in understanding the conceptual
and connotational meaning
Componential Analysis

• Feature analysis or contrast analysis

• It is the analysis of words through structured sets

of semantic features, which are given as "present",
"absent" or "indifferent with reference to feature".

• The method thus departs from the principle of

compositionality.
Componential Analysis

• Words can be analyzed and described in terms of

their semantic components, which usually come
in pairs called semantic oppositions:

• For example, "Up" and "Down,“

- Up (vertical direction - plus)
- Down (vertical direction – minus)
Componential Analysis in Conceptual Meaning

• Using the symbol of + (a present feature) and

– (an absent feature)

man = [+ MALE], [+ MATURE]

woman = [– MALE], [+ MATURE]
boy = [+ MALE], [– MATURE]
girl = [– MALE] [– MATURE]
child = [+/– MALE] [– MATURE]..
Componential Analysis using Conceptual Meaning

Composition Powered Carries Four- Petrol Two-wheeler

people Wheeler
Bus + + + + -
Car + + + + -
Van + + + + -
Bicycle - + - - +
Train + + - + -
Plane + + - + -
Wagon + + - + -
Ambulance + + + + -
Componential Analysis Directions: Fill in the box with plus (+) if the feature is
present and minus(-) if the feature is not present.

Composition Adult Non- Male Female Living Non- Four-

adult Living legged
Boy
Girl
Man
Woman
Book
Dog
Office

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Componential Analysis in Conceptual Meaning

Composition Adult Non- Male Female Living Non- Four-

adult Living legged
Boy - + + - + - -
Girl - + - + + - -
Man + - + - + - -
Woman + - - + + - -
Book - - - - - + -
Dog + - + - + - +
Office - - - - - + -
Componential Analysis in Connotative Meaning

• Connotative meaning is concerned with the

communicative value and expression by virtue of
what it refers to over its purely conceptual
content.
• The real-world experience one associates with an
expression when one uses or hears it.
For example, a baby, the meaning of the word
baby reflect at drawing of a baby or an imitation
of a baby cry
Componential Analysis in Connotative Meaning

• The real-world experience one associates with an

expression when one uses or hears it.
A woman, for example, in the past the
connotative of woman were known as, frail,
cowardly, emotional, irrational, and other weak or
low connotations. And hundred years ago woman
was considered to be one who was not wearing
trousers. Today these have been changing or at least
some of these characteristics cannot be entailed
to woman.
Componential Analysis in Connotative Meaning

• Connotative meaning can not be determined in a

similar way to the conceptual meaning which is
codified in terms of a limited set of symbols (like
contrastive features).
• Connotative is on par with our knowledge of the
universe which is also open-ended.
Componential Analysis in Connotative Meaning

Composition Conceptual Meaning Connotative Meaning

(Original Meaning)
A human that needs
Boy A human young male guidance
A human that needs
support from men or
Woman A human adult female A human that bears all the
pain and struggles or
A human that is weak and
vulnerable to abuse
Componential Analysis and the Role of Contextual Language

• Context in the language is what surrounds a word

or piece of text.
• However, to understand what is really going on,
we may need to go beyond what is said or written.
A simple phrase, such as "I hate you" can mean
exactly the opposite. All kinds of clues are needed
to understand what has been said. Along with
verbal communication comes non-verbal
communication.
Componential Analysis

• To summarize, one word can have basic

underlying meanings that are well-established
depending on the cultural context.
• It is crucial to understand these underlying
meanings in order to fully understand any
language and culture.
Componential Analysis

• Componential analysis provides insight into the

meaning of words and a way to study the
relationships between words that are related to
meaning.
Sharing of experiences:

• Cite a particular experience in your life that you

misunderstood the messages you heard.
• How did the misunderstanding affect you and
others?
• How did you patch up the misunderstanding?
Thank you for listening…

Date: 04-22-2021 Version: V2 DC No: -QMR--051