1-variant 1The subject matters of Lexicology

3.Metaphor and simile. A metaphor  is  a  shift  of meanings  caused  by  the  likeness  (semilarity  of  some  property  of  two  object). Metaphor is based on the semilarities of objects.Ex. the words “warm” and “cold” may be used to denote the certain qualities of human voices because of some kind of similarity between these qualities and warm and cold temperature.

Ex. warm voice    warm temperature

cold voice        cold temperature

The similarity may be based on several shapes.

1) similarity of form. Ex. eye of a needle, a head of a  pin; 2) similarity of function. Ex. the head of the state, the head of the  demonstation; 3)  similarity of position. Ex. the foot of the mountain, a foot of the page, the top of the table, the leg of the table.The usage of proper names for common nouns may cause a metaphor too. Some scientists use widely some characters. Ex. He is a pushkin of our days (he is a very strong poet).She is a tursunov (she is a very good cotton picker). Sometimes the names of animals are used to denote the human qualities.Ex. She is a fox (she is very cunny). She is a parrot (She is talkative).We must differ a metaphor from a simile. In simile we use before the words “as” and “like”. Ex. She is a monkey(metaphor). She is like a monkey (similar). 

28-VARIANT

1 The definition of the term meaning of the word. L. Bloomfield, a well-known American linguist, points out that the meaning is the situation in which the word is uttered. The siyuations prompt people to utter speech.Ex. if we want to know the meaning of the word “apple” we must make a situation for it.Our Soviet linguists say that the meaning is the realization of the notion by means of a definite language system (by a linguistic sing).So the term “meaning” is a subject of discussion among the linguists

There are two main approaches to the study of the meaning of a word.1) referential approach, 2) functional approach.The referential approach treats the meaning of a word as a relation between the object (the referent), notion and its name (the word).As can be seen from the diagram the sound form of the word (ex. “dove”) is connected with our concept of the bird which it denotes and through it with the referent. Treating the meaning of a word  by the referential approach is not quite clear. This point of view can hardly be accepted because meaning is not idential with the referent, there are words which do not denote a referent, ex. angel [eind3il] Becides one and the same referent may be denoted by different words.The functional approach treats the meaning as the relation of one word to another. By this approach the meaning can be studied only through context, through its relation to other words. Ex. to take the tram (a taxi), to take off, to take care of, to take ill, to take a degree, to take cold, to take it easy, to take it easy, to take on, to take place, to take tea, to take a bath, to take five minutes, to take notice, to take part in, to take a book, etc.