Lecture Approaches to the definition of word meaning: functional, referential and others

IX. Stylistic connotations stand somewhat apart for two reasons. Firstly, some scholars do not regard the word’s stylistic characteristic as a connotative component of its semantic structure. Secondly, stylistic connotations are subject to further classification, namely: colloquial, slang, dialect, poetic, terminological, archaic. Here again we are dealing with stylistically marked words, but this time we approach the feature of stylistic characteristics from a different angle: from the point of view of synonyms’ frequent differentiation characteristics.
Here are some examples of synonyms which are differentiated by stylistic connotations. The word in brackets starting the group shows the denotation of the synonyms.
(Girl). Girlie (coll.) – девушка, особенно стриптизёрша; lass, lassie (dial.); bird, birdie, jane, fluff, skirt (sl.), maiden (poet.) – дева; damsel (arch.) – девица.
Answer these questions.

1. 
   What are synonyms?
   
2. 
   Say why synonyms are one of the language’s most important expressive means. Illustrate your answer with examples.
   
3. 
   Synonyms are sometimes described as words with “dual” characteristics. What is meant by this?
   
4. 
   Which word in a synonymic group is considered to be the dominant synonym?
   
5. 
   Can the dominant synonym be substituted for certain other members of a group of synonyms? Is the criterion of interchangeability applicable in this case?
   
6. 
   The meanings of two apparent synonyms may be in a way opposed to each other. Why are such words still regarded as synonyms? Give examples.
   
7. 
   How are synonyms traditionally defined? On what criterion is this definition based? Which aspects of this definition are open to criticism?
   
8. 
   What types of synonyms were defined in V.V.Vinogradov’s classification system?
   
9. 
   How can synonyms be defined in the terms of componential analysis? On what criterion is this definition based?
   
10. 
    Show how the dual nature of synonyms can be clearly seen if they are regarded through semantic criterion.
    
11. 
    Why is the definition of synonyms based on the criterion of interchangeability open to question?
    
12. 
    What is the modern approach to classifying synonyms? Give examples.
    
13. 
    What connotations differentiate the verbs to peep and to peer; the adjectives pretty, handsome and beautiful?