In linguistics, semantics is the subfield that is
devoted to the study of meaning, as inherent at the levels of words, phrases,
sentences, and larger units of discourse (termed texts, or narratives). The
study of semantics is also closely linked to the subjects of representation,
reference and denotation.
The basic study of semantics is oriented to the
examination of the meaning of signs, and the study of relations between
different linguistic units and compounds: homonymy, synonymy, antonymy,
hypernymy, hyponymy, meronymy, metonymy, holonymy, paronyms. A key concern is
how meaning attaches to larger chunks of text, possibly as a result of the
composition from smaller units of meaning.
Traditionally, semantics has included the study of
sense and denotative reference, truth conditions, argument structure, thematic
roles, discourse analysis, and the linkage of all of these to syntax.
