Semantic property
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| - | '''''Intensifier'''''is a [[linguistics|linguistic]] term (but ''not'' a proper [[lexical category]]) for a [[grammatical modifier|modifier]] that makes no contribution to the [[proposition]]al meaning of a [[clause]] but serves to enhance and give additional emotional context to the word it modifies. Intensifiers are grammatical [[Expletive attributive|expletive]]s, specifically ''expletive attributives'' (or, equivalently, ''attributive expletives'' or ''attributive-only expletives''; they also qualify as ''expressive attributives''), because they function as semantically [[Emptiness|vacuous]] filler. Characteristically, [[English language|English]] draws intensifiers from a class of words called ''degree modifiers'', words that [[Quantifier (linguistics)|quantify]] the idea they modify. More specifically, they derive from a group of words called ''adverbs of degree'', also known as ''degree adverbs''. However, when used grammatically as intensifiers, these words cease to be degree [[adverb]]s, because they no longer quantify the idea they modify; instead, they emphasize it emotionally. By contrast, the words ''[[Wiktionary:moderately#Adverb|moderately]]'', ''[[Wiktionary:slightly#Adverb|slightly]]'', and ''[[Wiktionary:barely#Adverb|barely]]'' are degree adverbs, but ''not'' intensifiers. The other hallmark of prototypical intensifiers is that they are adverbs which lack the primary characteristic of adverbs: the ability to modify verbs. Intensifiers modify exclusively [[adjective]]s and adverbs. However, this rule is [[Necessary and sufficient condition|insufficient]] to classify intensifiers, since there exist other words commonly classified as adverbs that never modify verbs but are not intensifiers, e.g. ''[[Wiktionary:questionably#Adverb|questionably]]''. | + | '''Semantic properties''' or '''meaning properties''' are those aspects of a linguistic unit, such as a [[morpheme]], [[word]], or [[Sentence (linguistics)|sentence]], that contribute to the meaning of that unit. Basic semantic properties include being ''meaningful'' or ''meaningless'' – for example, whether a given word is part of a language's lexicon with a generally understood meaning; ''[[polysemy]]'', having multiple, typically related, meanings; ''[[ambiguity]]'', having meanings which aren't necessarily related ; and ''anomaly'', where the elements of a unit are semantically incompatible with each other, although possibly grammatically sound. Beyond the expression itself, there are higher-level '''semantic relations''' that describe the relationship between units: these include [[synonym]]y, [[antonym]]y, and [[hyponymy]]. |
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| - | For these reasons, [[Rodney Huddleston|Huddleston]] argues that intensifier not be recognized as a primary [[grammatical category|grammatical]] or [[lexical category]]. Intensifier is a category with grammatical properties, but [[Underdetermination|insufficiently defined]] unless its [[Functional grammar|functional]] significance is also described (what Huddleston calls a ''[[Notion (philosophy)|notional]] definition'' | + | |
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| - | [[Technical term|Technically]], intensifiers roughly qualify a point on the [[Affect (psychology)|affective]] [[semantic property]], which is [[Wiktionary:gradable|gradable]]. [[Syntax|Syntactically]], intensifiers pre-modify either adjectives or adverbs. [[Semantics|Semantically]], they increase the emotional content of an expression. The basic intensifier is ''very''. A versatile word, [[English language|English]] permits ''very'' to modify adjectives and adverbs, but not verbs. Other intensifiers often express the same intention as ''very''. | + | |
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| - | ==See also == | + | |
| - | * [[Comparison (grammar)]] | + | |
| - | * [[Intensive word form]] | + | |
| - | * [[So (sentence closer)]] | + | |
| - | * [[Do-support|''Do''-support]] | + | |
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Semantic properties or meaning properties are those aspects of a linguistic unit, such as a morpheme, word, or sentence, that contribute to the meaning of that unit. Basic semantic properties include being meaningful or meaningless – for example, whether a given word is part of a language's lexicon with a generally understood meaning; polysemy, having multiple, typically related, meanings; ambiguity, having meanings which aren't necessarily related ; and anomaly, where the elements of a unit are semantically incompatible with each other, although possibly grammatically sound. Beyond the expression itself, there are higher-level semantic relations that describe the relationship between units: these include synonymy, antonymy, and hyponymy.
Unless indicated otherwise, the text in this article is either based on Wikipedia article "Semantic property" or another language Wikipedia page thereof used under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License; or on research by Jahsonic and friends. See Art and Popular Culture's copyright notice.
