Microsoft Word Revised Syllabus Ver doc

Overlapping of Semantic Area
The semantic area of most of the words overlaps in most cases. We do not include all 
the meanings referred to by those words here; but only the related and relevant meanings are 
considered here. The words form a category on a systematic basis, so also the meanings of 
the words overlap systematically. This type of overlapping will be attested among the words 
which show one meaning. Here the overlap will be more but complete. Since most of the 
semantic components are common, instead of using one word another word may be used 
sometimes but not always. For example, in Tamil the verbs narukku and ari may be used 
interchangeably to refer to the cutting of vegetables for cooking or the cutting of grass in the 
field where only ari or veTTu alone can be used.
Because of the interchangeable usage of words not much semantic difference arises. 
One more example will make it clear. In Tamil we have two words virumpu and neesi. The 
semantic relationship between these words can be explained with the help of the diagram 
given below:

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Both of these words have some common features which overlap as shown in the 
diagram. Since most of the semantic components overlap (the details of which are not 
presented here) as shown in the shadowed portion, these two words can be used 
interchangeably in many place.
The amount of overlapping may vary. At times some of the semantic components of a 
word overlap with that of the other; and some other times most of the semantic components 
overlap.
If there is no contrast between any of the components which are not common then we 
get synonymous words. That is, since the important components are common and since there 
is not contrast between any of the other components, these words can be used 
interchangeably. On the contrary when there are no common categories at all they cannot be 
called as synonyms. And when one of the important components is in contrast with that of 
another word, we get antonyms. For example, the words appaa 'father' and ammaa 'mother' 
have many components which are common except for the component gender which is in 
contrast.
The following techniques may be helpful in the identification of the, semantic 
components.
1.
The common components must be found out and they have to be kept apart as 
they are not important.
2.
The components in the sub-sects of the meanings must be found out and should be 
listed.
3.
These components must be classified and listed under each meaning.
4.
The auxiliary components which will not affect the meaning may be temporarily 
forgotten.
5.
The extent to which the words have common meaning must be specified.
6.
The semantic components which either in isolation or in combination give 
meaning to a word must be identified.

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