A Case Study of Absolute Synonymy
Alan Severson 2013.11.30
A Case Study of Absolute Synonymy
Oxford dictionary defines a synonym as “A word or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word or phrase in the same language, for example shut is a synonym of close:” However, the definition example itself gives an example of near-synonymy rather than absolute synonymy, as “Shut down the computer” can not be used interchangeably with “Close down the computer.” But let us move beyond the standard definition and assume their example was only intended to illustrate near-synonymy.
While it seems safe to say that both believers and non-believers in absolute-synonymy would agree that if it does exist it is indeed rare. Cruse (2000:155) cites two word sets that are sometimes mentioned as strong candidates for absolute synonyms. However he quickly concedes that in any typical class there will be students who will find contextual fallacies between the two. I consider myself one of those hypothetical students and I will take a closer look at his second example:
(2) pullover : sweater (Cruse 2000:157)
It would certainly be hard to launch a debate claiming these two words have much substantial difference. However, according to Kreidler, (1998:97) “It would be wasteful for a language to have two terms that occur in exactly the same contexts and with exactly the same sense.” Therefore, regardless of which word was conceived first, it would be senseless to produce a carbon copy of the same word. A new word would only be conceived if there was reason to believe the original could not conjure the same connotation, no matter how trivial it may be. Given the limitless, pinpoint precision language allows in expression, it would seem unnecessary for a word with absolute pure compatibility to even manifest without the purpose of serving the fulfillment of another contextual situation no matter how minute or scarce that nuance is. Finally, it is worth noting that
A Case Study of Absolute Synonymy
Oxford dictionary defines a synonym as “A word or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word or phrase in the same language, for example shut is a synonym of close:” However, the definition example itself gives an example of near-synonymy rather than absolute synonymy, as “Shut down the computer” can not be used interchangeably with “Close down the computer.” But let us move beyond the standard definition and assume their example was only intended to illustrate near-synonymy.
While it seems safe to say that both believers and non-believers in absolute-synonymy would agree that if it does exist it is indeed rare. Cruse (2000:155) cites two word sets that are sometimes mentioned as strong candidates for absolute synonyms. However he quickly concedes that in any typical class there will be students who will find contextual fallacies between the two. I consider myself one of those hypothetical students and I will take a closer look at his second example:
(2) pullover : sweater (Cruse 2000:157)
It would certainly be hard to launch a debate claiming these two words have much substantial difference. However, according to Kreidler, (1998:97) “It would be wasteful for a language to have two terms that occur in exactly the same contexts and with exactly the same sense.” Therefore, regardless of which word was conceived first, it would be senseless to produce a carbon copy of the same word. A new word would only be conceived if there was reason to believe the original could not conjure the same connotation, no matter how trivial it may be. Given the limitless, pinpoint precision language allows in expression, it would seem unnecessary for a word with absolute pure compatibility to even manifest without the purpose of serving the fulfillment of another contextual situation no matter how minute or scarce that nuance is. Finally, it is worth noting that
References: Clark, David D., and Nerlich, Brigitte. (2003). Polysemy:Flexible Patterns of Meaning in Mind and Language Cruse, Alan (2004). Second language instruction does make a difference: Evidence from an empirical study. Meaning in Language: An Introduction to Semantics and Pragmatics: 155-157. Schubert, Julia. (2001). Linguistics who believe in absolute synonymy and those who don’t. Do we find absolute synonymy in the English Language?: Seminar Paper: 4.