What is synonym? Words do not exist in isolation. Their meanings are defined through the

2 Propositional synonyms Propositional synonyms can be defined in terms of entailments. If two words are propositional synonyms, they can be substituted in any expression with truth- conditional properties, without effect on those properties Cruse, 2000: 158. Moreover, Cruse 2000: 158 states that differences in the meanings of propositional synonyms, by definition, necessarily involve one or more aspects of non-propositional meaning, the most important being: i differences in expressive meaning, ii differences of stylistic level on the colloquial-formal dimension, and iii differences of presupposed field of discourse. For example, the words shin and fibula. The difference of those words is in the field of discourse. Shin is the everyday term, with no special expressive or stylistic loading, whereas fibula is used by medical specialists acting in that role. Another example is violin: fiddle. In this case, the difference depends on certain characteristics of the speaker. If the speaker is an ‘outsider’ to violinistic culture, fiddle is more colloquial, and possibly also jocular compared with violin. However, if the speaker is a professional violinist talking to another professional violinist, fiddle is the neutral term, with no jocularity, disrespect, or colloquiality, whereas violin is used mainly to outsider. 3 Near-synonyms Synonyms do not function primarily to contrast with one another. In certain context, of course, they may contrast, and this is especially true of near-synonyms: He was killed, but I can assure you he was NOT murdered, madam Cruse, 2000: 159. Cruse also states that to characterize the sorts of differences which do not destroy synonyms is not easy. It may be said that permissible differences between near synonyms must be either minor, or backgrounded, or both. Among ‘minor’ differences may be counted the following: i adjacent position on scale of ‘degree’: fog:mist, laugh:chuckle, big:huge , weep:sob, etc.; ii certain adverbial specializations of verbs: amble:stroll, chuckle:giggle , drink:quaff; iii aspectual distinction: calm:placid state vs. disposition; iv difference of prototype centre: brave prototypically physical: courageous prototypically involves intellectual and moral factors. c. How can we distinguish synonymous words? After we know the three degrees of synonyms, we know the fact that synonymous words cannot be used interchangeably in all contexts. Since synonyms are not instantly interchangeable words, whenever we want to substitute one word for another, we have to decide whether the word that we are considering as a substitute carries the meaning that we require. According to Burton 1982: 110, there are some considerations involving the choice of substituting words: • Words arouse and convey feelings as well as ideas. For example, although slay ‘means’ kill and kill ‘means’ slay no competent writer would substitute ‘slain’ for ‘killed’ in this newspaper headline: ‘Fifteen Killed on County’s Roads in Bank Holiday Black Week.’ • Very rarely do two words mean exactly the same thing, though they may mean something very similar. For example, although start and begin can ‘mean the same’ you would choose ‘started’ rather than ‘began’ to fill the gap in this sentence: ‘The mayor – the 3.30 race at Sandwood, run over two and a half miles for the newly presented Borough Trophy.’ • Words must be appropriate to the context in which they are used. For example, although buy ‘means’ purchase and live ‘means’ reside, you cannot just shuffle them around and slot one in instead of the other. There are contexts in which ‘purchase’ and ‘reside’ would be the wrong choices. They are not simple alternatives for ‘buy’ and ‘live’. • Words have sounds – even written or printed words are ‘heard’ by a reader. The sound of the words you are using is an important consideration. For example, the sentence: ‘The general generally expects his subordinates to report their major decisions to him in writing.’ It is not appropriate to substitute ‘generally’ for ‘usually’, and in that context, ‘chief’ is better than ‘major’. Another consideration to distinguish synonymous words is the denotative and connotative differences among them. Denotation is the explicit, direct meaning of a word Dees, 2003: 4. When words denote, they point out or refer to very nearly the same objects of qualities. For example, the synonymous words cat and kitten can both denote a four legged, carnivorous mammal belonging to the family Felidae Dees, 2003: 4. Differ to the denotation, the connotation of a word is the circle of ideas and feeling surrounding that word and the emotions that the word evokes. The denotative meaning of a word is often stretched to the