CHAPTER 7 - KREIDLER, C. W. Introducing English Semantics. London: Routledge, 2004.

KEY TO PRACTICES 7.1; 7.2; 7.3; 7,4; 7.5; 7.6

CHAPTER 7 - KREIDLER, C. W. Introducing English Semantics. London: Routledge, 2004.

PRACTICE 7.1 Prototypes (P.134)

The extension of bird includes robins, eagles, hawks, parrots, ducks, geese, ostriches and penguins. What is the intension? What do all the referents of bird have in common and which is not shared by non-birds? Which of these—robins, eagles, etc.— seem to you to be closer to a prototype and which farther away?
Will all speakers of English agree about this?

A PROTOTYPE CORRESPONDS TO THE IMAGE/REPRESENTATION A SPEAKER HAS OF A CERTAIN REFERENT. THIS REPRESENTATION VARIES AMONG DIFFERENT SPEAKERS.

Distinctions that we take for granted often turn out to have fuzzy boundaries when we try to explain the difference. We might say, for example, that the difference between a tree and a bush is a matter of size, but a tall bush can be bigger than a tree, and in any case a bonsai tree and a sapling are smaller than any bushes.


PRACTICE 7.2 Intension and extension (P. 134)

How do the lexemes in these pairs differ in their intension

SHOE , MORE GENERIC (INTENSION: an outer covering for the human foot, typically having a thick or stiff sole with an attached heel and an upper part of lighter material (as leather, for example).

SLIPPER (EXTENSION OF SHOE) : a light low-cut shoe that is easily slipped on the foot. A TYPE OF SHOE

CUP, MORE GENERIC (INTENSION: A DRINKING VESSEL, USUALLY OPEN BOWL-SHAPED DRINKING VESSEL (VESSEL= A CONTAINER – A CASK, BOTTLE, KETTLE, CUP, BOWL FOR HOLDING SOMETHING, USUALLY SOME LIQUID

MUG (EXTENSION OF CUP)= A CYLINDRICAL DRINKING CUP = A TYPE OF CUP)

VEGETABLE, MORE GENERIC= INTENTION: plant: a usually herbaceous plant (as the cabbage, bean or potato) grown for an edible part that is usually eaten as part of a meal.

FRUT (EXTENSION OF VEGETABLE) = a product of plant growth (as grains, vegetables, or cotton. Edible reproductive body of a seed plant, especially one having a sweet pulp associated with the seed.

DOOR (MORE GENETIC) INTENSION: A PASSAGE/;DOORWAY: a usually swinging or sliding barrier by which an entry is closed of opened, also a similar pArt of a piece of furniture.

GATE: (EXTENSION OF DOOR) an opening in a wall of fence; a means of entrance or exit; a movable barrier; an area for departure or arrival at an airport, etc.


PRACTICE 7.3 Concrete and abstract (P. 138)

The following occur in expressions with concrete reference and in expressions that have abstract reference. For each noun give an example of each kind of reference. Is there also a difference of countability?

beauty curiosity kindness
novelty personality representation


BEAUTY

NON-COUNTABLE/ABSTRACT

[qualities and characteristics]
She was enchanted by the beauty of the scenery.
A woman of great beauty.

COUNTABLE

[sb or sth beautiful]
He was impressed by the beauties of our city.
His girlfriend is a real beauty.


CURIOSITY

NON-COUNTABLE/ABSTRACT

[strong desire to know sth]
There was curiosity [PEOPLE WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT THE RESEARCH] about my research plan.

COUNTABLE/CONCRETE

[a strange or rare object]
The dress she wears is quite a curiosity.

KINDNESS

NON-COUNTABLE/ABSTRACT

[the quality of being kind]
She shows kindness to animals.


COUNTABLE

[a kind action]
I think it would be a kindness [A FAVOR] to help her with the paper.

NOVELTY

NON-COUNTABLE/ABSTRACT

[the quality of being new/clever]

He represents novelty at the department.


COUNTABLE/CONCRETE

[sth new, unusual,interesting]
Sing/plural

Christmas novelties. [PRODUCTS]
A novelty to spend my holidays abroad.


PERSONALITY

COUNTABLE AND NON-COUNTABLE

same contexts (The character of a person; people well-known to the public)

He has A strong personality.
I would love to meet TV personalities.



REPRESENTATION

NON-COUNTABLE

[the act of representing or state of being represented]

She appeared in court without representation.

COUNTABLE/CONCRETE

They made representations [OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS] against the faculty authorities.


PRACTICE 7.4 Countable and non-countable (P.139)

Which of the following are countable nouns and which are noncountable? Do any belong to both categories?

beer [COUNTABLE AND NON-COUNTABLE]

copper [ALMOST ALWAYS NON-COUNTABLE. COUNTABLE ONLY IN BRITISH ENGLISH TO REFER TO COINS OF LOW VALUE “COPPERS”, OLD USE.

dust: NON-COUNTABLE

equipment: NON-COUNTABLE

glue: NON-COUNTABLE (I need some glue, a tube of glue) or COUNTABLE: (I have found good quality glues at this shop.)

livestock (gado): NON-COUNTABLE

piano: VARIABLE: COUNTABLE OR NON-COUNTABLE (I´m learning to play the piano).

Wire: VARIABLE: COUNTABLE OR NON-COUNTABLE (the telephone wire(s)


PRACTICE 7.5 Specific reference (P. 142)
Which of the underlined expressions have specific reference and which do not?

1 Somebody telephoned and left a message for you. SPECIFIC, IF I HAVE THE PERSON IN MIND, AND CONSIDERING THIS SOMEBODY LEFT A MESSAGE IDENFIFYING HIMSELF/HERSELF.

2 I hope somebody will tidy up this file cabinet. NOT SPECIFIC

3 The last person to leave the office should lock the door. NOT SPECIFIC.

4 A stitch in time saves nine. NOT SPECIFIC

5 Evans sometimes forgets to keep his eye on the ball. SPECIFIC



PRACTICE 7.6 Anaphora (P. 151)


What do the underlined words refer to?

1 Pete promised me a souvenir from Paris but I never got it. SOUVENIR

2 Pete promised me a souvenir from Paris but I never got one. SOUVENIR

3 Frances asked Shirley to lend her some money. FRANCES

4 Frances promised Shirley to lend her some money. SHIRLEY

5 The police arrested several demonstrators because they were destroying property. DEMONSTRATORS

6 The police arrested several demonstrators because they felt the demonstration was getting violent. THE POLICE = PLURAL