Luận Văn A study on polysemy of antonymous words in English Some related problems facing learners of English

Khóa luận tốt nghiệp
Đề tài: A study on polysemy of antonymous words in English: Some related problems facing learners of English and suggested solutions

table of contents
Acknowledgement .
Part I: Introduction
1. Rationale of the study . 1
2. Aims of the study . 1
3. Scope of the study 2
4. Methods of the study 2
5. Design of the study . 2
Part II: Development
Chapter I: Theoretical background
1. Antonym in English 4
1.1. Definitions 4
1.2. Classification of Antonyms 7
1.2.1 Based on the meaning 7
1.2.1.1 Gradable antonyms. . 7
1.2.1.2. Complementary antonyms 9
1.2.1.3. Conversive antonyms 10
1.2.1.4. Directional antonyms 12
1.2.2. Based on the derivation 13
1.2.2.1. Root _ word antonyms . 13
1.2.2.2. Derivational antonyms 13
1.2.3. Based on the part of speech 14
1.2.3.1. Antonymous nouns 14
11
1.2.3.2. Antonymous verbs . 15
1.2.3.3. Antonymous adjectives . 16
1.2.3.4 Antonymous adverbs 17
2. Polysemy in English . 18
2.1. Definitions 18
2.2. Types of polysemy . 19
2.2.1. Radional polysemy 19
2.2.2. Chain polysemy . 20
Chapter II: Antonyms of polysemantic words
1. Antonyms of polysemantic nouns 22
1.1. Antonyms of loss . 22
1.2. Antonyms of master . 23
2. Antonyms of polysemantic verbs 24
2.1. Antonyms of maintain . 24
2.2. Antonyms of melt . 25
2.3. Antonyms of take . 27
3. Antonyms of polysemantic adjectives . 28
3.1. Antonyms of dull . 28
3.2. Antonyms of dry 30
3.3. Antonyms of hard 31
3.4. Antonyms of heavy 33
3.5. Antonyms of severe 35
3.6. Antonyms of short . 36
3.7. Antonyms of strong . 37
4. Antonyms of polysemantic adverbs 39
Antonyms of right 39
12
Chapter III: Implication
1. Some related problems 41
2. Some suggested solutions . 42
3. Exercises . 44
Part III: Conclusion . 52
References


part i
introduction
1. Rationale
With more than 6 million speakers in every part of the world, English now
has taken its place as the most important international language. Therefore, the
goal of learning and using this language is not just the knowledge of
grammatical rules but also the knowledge of lexicology, especially, antonyms of
polysemy words which will pave a way for learners reach to the goal of
successful communication.
Simply, answer to the question of why antonyms of polysemantic word
should be studied is beacause it has received considerably more attention in
recent times than many other linguistics phenomena. Many examples of
antonyms of polysemantic word become deeply ingrained in our mental lexicon
from infancy. Opposites are quickly learnt and rarely forgotten.
Furthermore, antonyms of polysemantic words which are popularly in our
life make confusing with the learners.
2. Aims of the study:
 This study gives the overview of antonym and polysemy in English.
 The meanings of polysemantic words are explained more carefully in this
study.
 The study analyses antonyms in the typical cases.
 A lot of exercises are given in order that the learner practise and enrich their
vocabulary.
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3. Scope of the study
This study looks into the antonym polysemantic word and gives how to
choose an antonym of a polysemantic word. Besides, it provides the reader the
general view on English antonyms such as: definition, characteristic features and
classification with illustrated examples.
In the main part, this study gives antonyms of a polysemantic word in order to
use words exactly and appropriately.
Polysemy is used commonly in English, however, the study pays attention to
analyse the typical cases in order that the theory is made clear.
4. Methods of the study
To carry out this rearch, qualitive methods are mainly implimented I rearch
for relevant knowledge from different books, dictionaries and web pages. Based on
the knowledge, collected, and studied, I systemized into a logical theoretical
background of antonyms and polysemy in English and give typical polysemantic
word groups and explain their antonyms in different situations.
With the difficulties I myself can not solve, I discussed with my teachers and
friends and asked for their advice and instructions.
5. Design of the study
In order to help readers understand easily, this study is devided into three
parts:
part I - introduction : gives the background of the study. It comprises
five conponents:
1. Rationale of the study
2. Aims of the study
3. Scope of the study
4. Methods of the study
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5. Design of the study
part II - development: includes three chapters:
Chapter I: Theoretical background: Provides the background to the study. It
consists of antonyms and polysemy.
Chapter II: The antonyms of polysemantic words in English.
Chapter III: Implication: gives some releated problems, suggested solutions and
provides some exercises for practice.
Part III: Conclusion: summarises the content of the whole study and
suggests and ideas for further study.
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part II: development
chapter I: theoretical background
1. antonyms in english
1.1. Definitions
In the book named ‚Basic English lexicology‛ (2005), Hoang Tat Truong
gave the definition of antonyms: ‚Antonyms are two (or rarely more) words
belonging to the same part of speech, identical in style and nearly identical in
distribution, associated and used together so that their denotative meanings
render contracdictory”.
For example:
Day – night
Hot – cold
Tie – untie
‚My only love sprung from my only hate
too early seen unknow and known too late‛
(Hoang Tat Truong, 2005:84)
In the example, there are three pairs of antonyms: love vs hate early vs late
and known and unknow. Love vs hate and known vs unknown indicate actions, so
they are verbs, and a pair of antonym: early vs late are adjectives because they
indicate the time. Love is opposite of hate, in terms of the contractory affection, so
love = not hate. Similarily, On the basis of contrary time, late is opposite of early
and unknown is antonym of known, according to the different awareness.


references
1. Charles, W & Miller, G. (1989). Contexts of antonymous adjectives.
Jossey - Bass Publishers.
2. Hanh, T.T. (2006). Word Meaning. Da Nang Publisher
3. Hoa, N. T. (2002). An Introduction to Semantic. The National University
Publisher.
4. Hung, N. M. (2006). Lexicology. Education Publisher
5. John, L. (1977). Semantics. Cambridge University Press.
6. Michael, S.(2000). Practical English Usage. Tre Publisher.
7. Tom Mc Arthur, ‚Antonym‛, The Oxford. Companion to the English
language, Oxford University Press, 1992.
8. English-English-Vietnamese Dictionary- nxb Van Hoa Thong Tin.
9. Tõ ®iÓn ®ång nghÜa ph¶n nghÜa- nxb §ång Nai.
10. Collins Co build English Dictionary for Advanced Learners 4th edition
published in 2003.
11. Hoang Tat Truong. Basic English lexicology, 2005.
12. http:// www. BBC World Service/ learning English.com.
13. http:// www.en.vikipedia.org.
14. http:// www.absoluteastronomy.com/ topic/ polysemy-31k.