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Metaphorical and metonymical extensions are the keys to distinguishing phrasal verbs in secondary level from phrasal verbs in tertiary level of polysemy.
Metaphor and metonymy are varieties of figurative non-literal use of language. Metaphor is “figurative usage based on resemblance” Cruse, 2000, p. 112 or
analogy as in The reporter always tried to fish information in every chance. The verb fish is commonly used to describe a physical action to attempt to catch fish.
In metaphorical extension, the verb fish is used in a different context, in this case fish describes an attempt to get information.
Metonymy is “figurative use based on association” Cruse, 2000, p. 112, as in Did you meet the blue eyes yesterday?
Blue eyes in the sentence do not literally refer to the eyes part of face but a person who has blue eyes. Phrasal verbs which are included in secondary level of
polysemy have literal meanings while phrasal verbs which are included in tertiary level of polysemy have non-literal meanings based on metaphorical or
metonymical extensions.
4. Semantic Roles
The meanings of a polysemous word are also determined by the words combined with it in the sentence. Previously, it is mentioned that in analyzing a
sentence in semantics study, the terms predication, predicate, and argument are used. In this case, the word take is the predicate. The meaning which is expressed
by the predication is determined by the arguments which are linked by the predicate. In order to analyze the functions of the arguments, the theory of
semantic roles can be applied. Kreidler 1998 gives the definitions and illustrations of semantic roles in Table 2.2.
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Table 2.2 Semantic Roles Kreidler
actor The role of an argument that performs some action without
affecting any other entity. Sylvia left.
affected
The role of an argument that undergoes a change due to some event or is affected by some other entity. A window broke. Tom
broke a window. Betty likes opera. Opera delights Betty.
affecting The role of an argument that, without any action, affects another
entity. Betty likes opera. Opera delights Betty.
agent
The role of an argument that by its action affects some other entity. Tom broke a window.
associate The role of an argument that tells the status or identity of another
argument, the theme: Roger is a student. effect
The role of an argument that comes into existence through the action of the predicate. Tillie baked a pie.
place The role of an argument that names the location in which the
action of the predicate occurs. The fireman climbed a ladder.
theme
The role of an argument that is the topic of a predicate that does not express action
– a stative predicate. Audrey is a computer expert.
Semantic roles can be varied according to the different researchers. Some semantic roles may occur based on the result of research. Norvig and Lakoff
1987, who conducted research on the word take, list semantic roles which were occurred in their research. The definitions of semantic roles by Norvig and Lakoff
shown in Figure 2.4.
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Figure 2.4 Semantic Roles Norvig Lakoff
5. Dictionary Definitions
