3 Word Relations

II.
Word Relations
In the day-to-day speech and in formal writing, words have been known to have relations with each
other, either in the process of forming new words or to make full meaning in a sentence. The
following are instances of word relations.
2.1. Homonyms
Homonyms are words with the same spelling and the same sound but have different meaning and
origin. Varying usage gives them different meanings. For instance, the word “plant” can be used to
mean a living organism as distinguished from a tree and a shrub; it can also mean a factory or a
machine for generating electricity. Other words which have multiple unrelated meanings are given
below and students should find the various meanings of each word and how each is used in different
contexts.
arch die march

arm fair match
ball fell mean
bear grave pitch
blow gum plot
box hawk race
case jet rent
cow leave scale
cricket light tense
2.2. Homophones
Homophones are words that have different spellings and meanings but the same sound. Applying
them in sentences brings out their meanings. Also their difference is seen when written.
Examples:
- court and caught

- hale and hail
- night and knight
- sow, sew, and so
- right, rite and -wright as in playwright
- course, and coarse
- lore and law
- raw and roar
- you and ewe
Note that the following words are not homophones because they do not have the same
pronunciation: heat and hit, leave and live, tank and thank, and many other such sets of
words. A good knowledge of English sounds will prevent people mispronouncing these
words.
2.3. Polysemy
Polysemy is a situation where a word has more than one related meanings. Here the words have a
common major source. The other meanings are by metaphorical extension. For example, we talk of
the mouth of a cave, the mouth of a river, etc. These meanings of mouth are derived from the
human anatomy mouth which is an opening/entrance into the body. By extension these meanings of
mouth are like openings/entrances into the cave and river respectively. In the case of homonymy
there is no such relationship. A generator is not related in meaning to a crop but they are both
referred to as plant in homonymy.
Other examples of polysemy:
- Leg of a table versus human leg

- Eye of a needle versus human eye
- Foot of a mountain versus human foot
We can say that two words are polysemes when they are in such relationship we have in polysemy.
2.4. Hyponyms
In language, a word is hyponymous when it can share characteristics with other words and so project
a certain image. Their relationship could be founded on the fact that they share certain generic
properties, e.g. lizards, crocodiles. The property they share is that they are reptiles and are animals of
the class reptilla. They are also vertebrates with scales. Therefore, lizards and crocodiles are co-
hyponyms and come under the superordinate term reptiles. In the same way hibiscus and daffodils
are flowers. Hyponyms tend to remind us that words have origins and associations and the order in
which they appear should interest us.
2.5. Homographs
These are words which are spelt alike but they have different origin, meaning, grammar and
pronunciation. For instance, the word wind can be pronounced /waind/ (verb) or /wind/ (noun).
Thus, they are two different words that share the same spelling but different pronunciations. They
are therefore homographs. Other examples are lead (n) and lead (v); record (n) and record (v).
2.6. Synonyms
They are words with similar meaning. The ability of a writer or speaker to know other words that can
serve his purpose is the hallmark of a good writer or speaker. Constant usage of a particular word or
words in the same page or passage gives the impression of limitation. It is for this reason that wide
reading is recommended. However, the writer should know the exact context in which a particular
word is used. Here are more examples of synonyms:
- expensive , dear, exorbitant, costly

- profitable , lucrative, gainful
- buy, purchase
- enduring , durable, lasting
- big, huge, immense, bulky
- fat, big, obese, plump, chubby, portly, flabby
However, it can be argued that no two words are exactly the same. What can be admitted here is
that some words have meanings identical meanings in some contexts. For a word to be synonymous
with another word, it must agree in all respects, including grammatical properties. Similarly, if such a
word is in plural, to be synonymous with another word, that other word must also be in plural. If it is
a verb, it must also be a verb and must agree in number and tense to be completely synonymous.
2.7. Antonyms
In a sense, antonyms are the opposite of synonyms. From the way some words are used, it is quite
certain that they have opposite meanings. Let us take, for example, the following sentences:
a. Are you the recipient of the Star Book prize? The donor would like to meet you.
b. She showed no sympathy to the man. Her apathy was too obvious.
Other examples of antonyms are the following:
a. good - bad
b. give - take
c. ascent - descent
d. proceed - recede
e. achievement – failure
f. dated – new
Scholars like Ndimele (1997:62) have identified a broader meaning for antonymy (that is, the
semantic relationship between words that are antonyms). They call it semantic opposition.
Antonymy is an umbrella word to cover all levels of semantic opposition. We might not take this
argument beyond this level because of the scope of this chapter. It suffices here that words with
opposite meanings are called antonyms.
2.8. Connotation and Denotation
In an attempt to establish the meaning of a word, we can approach it from two levels - denotation
and connotation. We use denotation to refer to the dictionary meaning of a word, the hard-core
level or the literal meaning of a word. When we use the word ‘have’, it is usually made to signify
possession. Using it to mean other things is possible but it is no longer denotative. When we use the
implied meaning of the word “have”, it is now connotative, which is to use the word at other levels
or degrees. For example, the same word can mean affluence or riches if we say:
He is one of the haves.
When a word is used in a different context, its meaning can acquire a new status. Creative writers
often use words connotatively to convey special meanings or play on their readers’ emotion to
achieve certain effects. Thus, a writer can state:
Obi's last appearance at the panel nailed him.
Here, “nail” does not mean the iron, which a carpenter uses to hold pieces of wood together. It is
used to mean 'convict'. In other words, the word is used connotatively.
2.9. The Dictionary and Vocabulary Development
The dictionary, from all angles, is unarguably the best companion of the student, which must be
treasured and preserved. The dictionary is so invaluable that a serious student should not go to a
private study without it. It has been observed that most Nigerian students do not know the immense
uses of the dictionary. True, many know it is a book to discover the meaning and usage of words. But
the dictionary means much more than that. (Note: In Chapter Three of this book, the types of
information a dictionary provides have been treated in details.)

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II.

arch die march

- court and caught

Other examples of polysemy:

- Leg of a table versus human leg

- expensive , dear, exorbitant, costly

Other examples of antonyms are the following:

2.8. Connotation and Denotation

He is one of the haves.

Obi's last appearance at the panel nailed him.

2.9. The Dictionary and Vocabulary Development

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