1. The subject of Lexicology and the main lexicological problems

7.Antonyms.
Antonyms – are a class of word group together on the basis of the semantic relations of opposition. Antonyms are words belonging to one part of speech sharing certain common semantic characteristics. Structurally they can be classified into antonyms of the same root (cheerful-cheerless) and antonyms of different root (day-night). Semantically they can be divided into 1)contradictories 2) contraries 3) incompatibles. Contradictories represent the type of semantic relations that exist between pairs like single-married. These antonyms are mutual opposed. They deny one another. Contraries are antonyms that can be arranged into a series according to the increasing difference in one of their qualities. This may be observed in “cold-hot, cool-warm” which are intermediate members. Thus we may regard antonyms not only cold and hot, but also cold and warm. Incompatibles are antonyms which are characterized by the relations of exclusion. Semantic relations exist among antonyms with a common component of meaning and may be described as the reverse of hyponymy. FE: to say morning is to say not afternoon, not evening. They are members of the multiple-term sets. Mostly antonyms are adjectives which is natural because characteristics are easily compared and contrasted. (old-young, strong-weak). Verbs take second place (open-close). Nouns are not many. Adverbs can be subdivided into 2 groups: 1) Derived from adjectives: lovely, softly. 2) adverbs proper (here-there, ever-never).
8. Homonymy.
The word ‘homonym’ is derived from Greek homos – ‘similar’ and onoma – ‘name’, thus words identical in sound and spelling or at list in one of these aspects but different in their meaning are called homonyms.
English vocabulary is rich in homonymous words and word-forms.The majority of homonyms due to phonetic changes which they suffer during the development if synonyms and antonyms would be regarded as the treasures or the language’s express its resources, homonyms are of no interest in this aspect. Group of synonyms and pairs of antonyms are created by the vocabulary system with a particular purpose whereas homonyms are accidental creations and therefore purposeless. In the process of communication using the homonyms can lead sometimes to confusion and misunderstanding. It I very characteristic that makes them one of the most important sources of popular humor.
We distinguish 3 groups of homonyms:

1. 
   Homonyms proper – full or perfect homonyms. There are words that belong to the same part of speech and are identical both in sound and spelling but differentiation in meaning.E.g.: ball, as a round object and ball – gathering of people for dancing.
   
2. 
   Homographs are words which are identical only in spelling but different in sound and meaning.E.g.: wind /wind/ - wind /waind/
   
3. 
   Homophones – words of the same sound but of different spelling and meaning,e.g.: knight /nait/– night /nait/; peace /pi:s/ - piece /pi:s/