LIN203H1 Lecture 7: lec7.pdf
Document Summary
A morpheme is fundamentally a unit that associates a form with a meaning. But just as a single morpheme can have multiple forms, it can also have multiple meanings. Some simple examples of polysemy: pool: facility constructed for swimming", puddle" pig: porcine animal", disgusting person" bright: emitting light", intelligent". Each of these morphemes has two or more conceptually related meanings. What seems like a single meaning may be polysemy on closer examination: Consider the sentence my money is in the bank: this has at least two meanings: bank: financial institution", building where a financial institution is housed" a financial corporation, or the building where it does business. This is because the two meanings of bank refer to different (but related) things . The morpheme bank has more meanings than these two, of course! I have deposited my money in a bank account". I left my wallet in the bank building".
