What is Semantic Opposition? Types of Semantic Oppositions

Semantic Opposition: Every lexical item, i.e., word has several constituents of meaning. For example, the word man has three constituents, such as +HUMAN + ADULT + MALE.

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These are also called the components of meaning. On the basis of these components of meaning, we can distinguish one word from another.

As a matter of fact, one word is different from the other in terms of the contrast in the components of meaning. If we take another word woman, we find the contrast in the semantic component of sex when compared to the word man.

To put it in a simple way, we can say that the two lexical items namely, man and woman are in opposition or in contrast with regard to sex. In feature formula this contrast in meaning or semantic opposition can be shown as follows:

Man : + HUMAN + ADULT + MALE

                                                         ↕

Woman : + HUMAN + ADULT - MALE

Types of Semantic Oppositions

On the basis of contrast in meaning or semantic opposition, we can distinguish one word from the other, keeping in view the oppositions in meanings, we can distinguish the following types of semantic oppositions: 

1. Taxonomic oppositions

2. Polar oppositions

3. Relative oppositions.

Taxonomic Oppositions

The opposition, in which the semantic opposition is indicated through an arrangement of categories, is called "Taxonomic Opposition." There are two types of Taxonomic oppositions:

(i) Binary Taxonomy

(ii) Multiple Taxonomy

(i) Binary Taxonomy: In binary taxonomy the contrast between two items is absolute. The example of this opposition is found between the items like 'life' and 'death'. The contrast between these two items is absolute and we might visualize it in the form of the accompanying diagram:

alive

(+LIVE)

-----------------------

dead

(-LIVE)

Here, there can be only two categories, i.e., + LIVE and - LIVE. A thing, which is + LIVE, cannot be - LIVE and vice versa. Hence, the sentence 'John is alive' contrasts with 'John is dead', because John cannot be alive and dead simultaneously. In this way, the following sentences are also contradictory: 

(a) The dead animal was still alive.

(b) John is both alive and dead.

(c) John is neither alive nor dead.

(ii) Multiple Taxonomy: The opposition, which involves more than two items, is called multiple taxonomy or multiple opposition. There is no binary contrast (two-way contrasts) but more than two contrasts. The examples of multiple oppositions are found in semantic classes dealing with the types of animal, fruit, tree, metal, color, noise etc. For example:

Animal: horse, cow , dog, goat, elephant etc.

Noise: crash, chatter, rough, Jazz etc.

Fruit: Apple, Mango, guava, banana etc.

Metal: Diamond, gold, copper, iron, mercury, silver etc.

Polar Oppositions

Polar opposition is that opposition in which the contrast is found in terms of relativity, which means that a particular contrast between two items may be less or more. Polar opposition is a contrast, which can be explained in terms of a scale running between two poles or extremes. For example, in polar opposition the meaning can be expressed by using the words quite, very etc., like 'quit rich', and 'very rich'. So, the polar opposition shows more delicate contrast between the two items having the degree of features which exist between the two poles and which can be expressed by using the terms like 'quite', 'very' etc. The examples of polar oppositions are found in antonym pairs like rich/poor, old/young, deep/shallow, large/small etc.

Relative Oppositions

It is that opposition in which a kind of relationship is found between the two items. For example, the contrast of direction involves a kind of relationship. Such examples are: above/bellow, up/down, before/after, east/west, parent/child, left/right etc. Relations, which are found in these terms, can be expressed by using the term 'ARGUMENT'. The contrast between two relative features consists in the fact that the two arguments A1 and A2 may be related either in one order or in another. We may take, e.g., the sentence, "John is the parent of James." The diagram will be as follows:

A1-------------------------------------------------------➝A2

John                is the parent of            James

If we take another sentence, James is the child of John, then the diagram will be like this:

A2----------------------------------------------------➝A1

James is                    child of                John 

If we take both sentences together, then the diagram will be applicable:

A1-------------Parent of (➝PARENT)-------➝A2

⇠------------Child of (⇠PARENT)---------------

John is                 the parent of        James

James is               the child of          John

So, the sentences: (1) "John is the parent of James" and (2) "James is the parent of John" show the contrast in meaning while the sentences: (1) "John is the parent of James" and (3) "James is the child of John" are synonymous. The relationship of meaning is called relational opposition. The relational opposition can be further illustrated by using diagrams of the following three sentences: 

(1) John is the parent of James.

(2) James is the parent of John.

(3) James is the child of John.

Here, 'John' is equivalent to 'A1' and 'James' is equivalent to 'A2' while A' stands for 'ARGUMENT'.

Under another formula the "parent of" is equivalent to ➝" PARENT" and "the child of " is equivalent to⇠" PARENT". Therefore, of the above sentences, (1) "John is the parent of James" is synonymous to sentence (3) "James is the child of John." It can be illustrated as follows:

(1) A1---PARENT-➝ A2   = (3) A2⇠PARENT--A1

John is the parent of James = James is the child of John

Of the above sentence, the sentence, (1) John is the parent of James and (2) James is the parent of John are antonyms. These two sentences can be shown in the following way:

(1) A1--PARENT-➝A2 = (2) A2-PARENT--A1

John is the parent of James ≠ James is the parent of John