Branches of linguistics. Synchronic vs diachronic approaches to the language study. Lexicology – ‘the science of the word’ Lexicon

Radical-chain (mixed) polysemy is a combination of radial polysemy and chain polysemy. Here the configuration of a diagram depends on the word’s semantic structure, hence there is a great variety of diagrams illustrating this type of polysemy.

28. Homonyms. Classifications and sources of homonyms.

Homonymy (Gr. homos ‘same’ + onyma, dial. form of onoma ‘name’) is the sameness of form combined with the difference in meaning.

Homonyms are two or more words identical in sound-form or / and spelling but different in meaning and distribution, e.g. hole, n – whole, adj; need, n – knead, v; polish, n – Polish, adj, etc.

Oxford English Dictionary registers 2540 homonyms, of which 89% are monosyllabic words and 9,1% are disyllabic