[Lexicog] Re: Law of synonyms

[Jeannette Allsopp]

Dear John

 

This strengthens the argument that synonymy is at best only partial not
complete and although many of the words and phrases that we use are
considered synonymous, it is a broad general term which conveys that there
is similarity, but not necessarily a direct duplication of sense,

 between those items.  I do think that it is valid to look for 'synonyms'
between different dialects of the same language because it is this very
difference, which usually has to do with the geographic locations in which
these dialects are spoken, that makes them identifiable as such, even in the
same country.

 

Jeannette Allsopp

 

 

  _____  

From: lexicographylist at yahoogroups.com
[mailto:lexicographylist at yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of John Roberts
Sent: Saturday, 18 October, 2008 5:33 AM
To: lexicographylist at yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Lexicog] Re: Law of synonyms

 

According to the New Oxford Dictionary of English neither 'lift' and
'elevator' nor 'truck' and 'lorry' are referentially identical. In NODE the
first meaning of 'elevator' is 'a machine consisting of an endless belt with
scoops attached, used typically for raising grain to be stored in an upper
storey: e.g. a 'grain elevator'.' NODE also notes that 'elevator' is the N.
American term for 'lift' in sense 1. This sense is given as 'something that
is used for lifting' and in Brit dialect 'a platform or compartment housed
in a shaft for raising and lowering people or things to different floors or
levels.' But this sense also applies as subsenses in the terms 'ski lift'
and 'shoe lift'. Both 'lift' and 'elevator' have multiple meanings and it is
only in one particular usage that the terms might be considered synonymous
between the Brit and N. American dialects, viz. when referring to 'a
platform or compartment housed in a shaft for raising and lowering people or
things to different floors or levels.'

However, 'lorry' only refers to a road vehicle, while 'truck' has a wider
meaning and can refer to both road and rail vehicles. There are also
expressions where only 'lorry' can be used, e.g. 'fell off the back of a
lorry' meaning 'obtain in dubious circumstances,' and the tongue twister
'red lorry, yellow lorry.' So again the point of synonymy comes specifically
when a Brit uses 'lorry' where a N. American would use 'truck' to refer to
the same object.

So 'lift' and 'elevator', and 'lorry' and 'truck' cannot be considered exact
synonyms because they are not interchangeable in all contexts. They are only
interchangeable in a very limited context. Even then, I think I would only
substitute 'elevator' for 'lift' in some N. American influenced context and
likewise 'truck' for 'lorry'.

But is it valid to look for 'synonyms' between different dialects of a
language? If so, then all the 'Englishes' spoken in the world today should
provide a host of synonymous expressions between these 'Englishes'.

John Roberts


Benjamin Barrett wrote: 

Even these might be different, though. Lift has meanings separate from
elevator, which are surely used in both regions. Similarly, truck has
multiple meanings other than just lorry.  

 

Finding examples without those problems still leaves the problem that the
idealized or typical image of a truck is probably different from that of a
lorry due to differences in the models/sizes of the vehicles in the
respective countries, etc.

 

It still might be possible to find perfect synonyms in different dialects,
but it might prove to be a difficult task. BB

 

On Oct 17, 2008, at 11:15 PM, rtroike at email.
<mailto:rtroike at email.arizona.edu> arizona.edu wrote:






One ! dimension that has been neglected in this discussion is regional
difference. There are numerous cases in most, probably all, languages
(provided that they are spoken by more than one person, or perhaps
one community) where there are regionally different equivalents for
the same object/activity/condition. British vs American English furnishes
numerous examples: lorry vs truck, lift vs elevator, etc., etc. Surely
these are exact synonyms, either abstractly or for those who know both,
and the contexts of usage would be the same in different speech-communities.

 

 

 

 

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