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S y n o n y m y is often understood as semantic equivalence. Semantic
equivalence however can exist between words and word-groups, word-groups
and sentences, sentences and sentences. For example,
John is taller than Bill
is
semantically equivalent to
Bill is shorter than John. John sold the book to Bill and
Bill bought the book from John
may be considered semantically equivalent.
As can be seen from the above these sentences are paraphrases and denote
the same event. Semantic equivalence may be observed on the level of word-
groups,
It is inconceivable that polysemantic words could be synonymous in all
their meanings.
The verb look, e.g., is usually treated as a synonym of
see,
watch, observe
,
etc., but in another of its meanings it is not synonymous with
this group of words but rather with the verbs
seem, appear
(cf. to look at smb
and to look pale).
It is believed that one of the most quoted criterion of synonymy is not as
reliable as it might look. It is difficult to accept interchangeability as a criterion
of synonymy because the specific
characteristic of synonyms, and the one
justifying their very existence, is that
they are not, cannot and should not be
interchangeable,
in which case they would simply become
useless ballast in the
vocabulary
.
Synonyms are frequently said to be the vocabulary's colours, tints and
hues (so
the term
shade
is not so inadequate, after all, for those who can
understand a metaphor). Attempts at ascribing to synonyms the quality of
interchangeability are equal to stating that subtle
tints in a painting can be
exchanged without destroying the picture's effect.
All this does not mean that no synonyms are interchangeable. One can
find whole groups of words with half-erased connotations which can readily be
substituted one for another. The same girl can be described as
pretty, good-
looking, handsome
or
beautiful.
Yet, even these words are far from being totally
interchangeable. Each of them creates its own picture of human beauty. In other
words, cognitive synonyms are propositionally equivalent. Given that
statesman
62
and
politician
are cognitive synonyms, a substitution test, which is a diagnostic
test for judging synonymy and contextual restrictiveness of lexemes, can be
applied.
Namely, interchangeability of synonymous pairs is tested by means
of substitution of one synonym with another in the same context. Synonyms are
interchangeable
only in certain environments, so this test can be utilized to
illustrate the difficulties in finding the pairs of absolute synonyms. The
proposition
The statesman spoke at the conference
implies the proposition
The
politician spoke at the conference
. Since the first proposition is true, the second
one must necessarily be true, and vice versa.
Entailment is the relation between two sentences or propositions where
the propositional content of one proposition includes that of the other.
Mutual
entailment is the relation in which the propositional contents of sentences are
identical, so the truth of one requires the truth of the other, and vice versa. A
proposition containing one synonym is mutually entailed by the same
proposition containing the other.
The skill to choose the most suitable word in every context and every
situation is an essential part of the language learning process. Students should be
taught both to discern the various connotations in the meanings of synonyms and
to choose the word appropriate to each context.
Synonymy is associated with some theoretical problems which at present
are still an object of controversy.
In modern
research on synonyms the
criterion of interchangeability is sometimes applied. According to this,
synonyms are defined as words which are interchangeable at least in some
contexts without any considerable alteration in denotational meaning.
In conclusion, let us stress that even if there are some synonyms which
are
interchangeable, it is quite certain that there are also others which are not. A
criterion,
if it is a criterion at all, should be applicable to all synonyms and not
just to some of them. Otherwise it is not acceptable as a valid criterion.
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