The Categorization of the Meanings of the Word Take

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1. The Categorization of the Meanings of the Word Take

Nida 1975 applies a procedure of meanings categorization in analyzing a series of sentences containing the same lexical unit. The categorization is conducted by grouping the meanings into loosely defined categories of apparently related meanings. The researcher applied the same procedure to categorize the meanings of the word take in the novel. Each category is given a coding name as Series A, Series B, and so on. There are twelve groups or categories of meaning of the word take in the novel. Table 4.3 shows the categories and the example of sentences in the contexts. Table 4.3 The Categories of the Word Take in the Novel No. Series Contexts 1. A. To grasp and hold Context 3 Took the scissors in his left paw 2. B. To grab one’s possession Context 10 Took the Kings sword away 3. C. To obtain Context 32 Took some biscuits 4. D. To receive Context 13 Take my advice 5. E. To capture Context 46 Take all of them alive 6. F. To occupy Context 21 Took the lead 7.

G. To remove from a former position

Context 5 Take this wretched skin off me 8. H. To leadcarry Context 14 Take him away 9. I. To go Context 2 Take a good brisk trot down the river 10. J. To require Context 9 Had taken a moment 11. K. To cause Context 6 Taking logs down 12. L. To consider process in the mind Context 8 Had taken it for granted The complete categories with members for each category can be seen in Appendix D. 61 There are twelve series of category from the results. Each of the series consists of several contexts. The members of the series were determined based on the extent of the meaning similarity of the contexts. Each series bears one meaning category. However, it is possible for each member of the series to have a distinct meaning in terms of the usage based on the contexts. Thus, each series of category will be discussed one by one. The researcher considered the meaning of the word take in Series A as the central meaning. Mostly, the word take conveys a process of reaching or grasping something and then holding the thing with hands. In Context 25, the sentence involves the writing rule to show possession Jill’s bow. However, there is no process of changing possession. The subject of the sentence is borrowing the object without making it become possession. Thus, the meaning of this context is ‘to grasp and hold’ instead of ‘to grasp from somebody’s possession’. Similarly, Series B has the process of reaching and grasping as in Series A with an additional feature of possession. In Context 10 and Context 12, there is a process of changing possession of the things with a force. In Series C, the actual process is the same with the process of reaching and holding things in Series A and Series B. However, the meaning denotes the process of obtaining something. The things which are being reached and held become the possession of the actors. The meanings in the first three Series have the same component of reaching and holding something. There is a process of receiving an offering, which is suggested to be accepted, in Series D. The offerings in Context 13 and Context 44 are related to 62 others’ thought, while in Context 65, the offering is something which is accepted willingly. In Context 37 and Context 52, there is no offering but opportunity which can be received anytime. In Series E, there is an underlying meaning of making possession of living being with a force, since the word take in the contexts indicates a process of taking control of someone. Context 60a is a phrasal verb and the other contexts in the series are simple lexemes. The possessing process in this series is keeping someone as a prisoner. In a similar way, the contexts in Series F are underlying meaning of making possession. The meaning ‘to occupy’ denotes the process of making possession of certain positions or places. In Context 21, the position to possess is in the front of marching people. In the rest of the contexts in the group, the position to possess is somewhere stable or fixed. There are two differences of removing act in Series G. In Context 5, Context 30, and Context 31, the removing act is putting off something which is attached in the body. The previous position of the thing is worn on the body. In Context 19, Context 28, Context 63, and Context 64, the removing act is getting something off from its previous position or place. The things removed in Context 19 and Context 63 have the position in the inside which indicated by the presence of a phrasal verb take out. There are movement acts in Series H and Series I. The acts are moving from one place to another place. In Series H, there is an agent who leads the movement from one place to another place. In Context 14, Context 15, and Context 16, the destination is unspecific and in a far distance. In Context 1, 63 Context 27 and Context 53, the destination is specific and reachable. Context 35 and Context 60b are underlying the action of releasing a captive. The agent moves the captive from the prison or the place where the captive is kept. In Series I, the movement is done by the subject without an agent to lead. The subject goes from one place to another place. In Context 2 and Context 54, the movement is for a short distance and the destination is rather specific. In Context 7 and Context 34, the movement is for a long distance and the destination is unspecific. Moreover, both contexts indicate that the action is not merely going from one place to another place, but also carrying a certain purpose or goal. The meaning of the word take in Series J involves the requirement of spending a certain amount of time. All contexts mention the amount of time that is necessary to do something or the duration of certain events to occur. The contexts in Series K are categorized into one group because of the fact that all involve cause and effect. The members of this group are varied. Context 36 and Context 43 are verbs simple lexemes. Context 6, Context 26, Context 33, Context 45, Context 66, and Context 68 are phrasal verbs. Context 17, Context 41, Context 42, and Context 67 are idiomatic expressions. The meanings of the word take in Series K are difficult to distinct based on the usage in each context. However, it is denoted that the relation between the components in each context is causative. It can be noted that almost all idiomatic expressions of the word take that occurred in the novel have the meanings in this series causative. The occurrence of the word take in Series L implies the process in the mind. It is something that caught in the mind and being processed by the recipient. 64 Context 4, Context 23, Context 24, Context 47, Context 58, and Context 59 employ the same phrasal verb take in and the meaning denotes the process of deceiving someone. Context 8 and Context 48 are both idiomatic expressions and convey the process of considering. Context 56 and Context 57 are the same expression of the process of paying attention to something. Context 22, Context 29, and Context 69 convey the process of assuming or understanding something. All processes in the Contexts are implied the process of thinking which happens in the mind and do not involve physical actions. Table 4.4 The Frequency of Meanings of the Word Take Based on the Categories Series Meaning Percentage of the word take Series A To grasp and hold 4.3 Series B To grab one’s possession 2.9 Series C To obtain 2.9 Series D To receive 7.1 Series E To capture 8.6 Series F To occupy 5.7 Series G To remove 10 Series H To leadcarry 11.4 Series I To go 5.7 Series J To require 5.7 Series K To cause 17.1 Series L To consider 18.6 Total percentages 100 65 The frequency of the meanings of the word take based on the category was counted using the formula in Figure 3.2. The results of the counting is depicted in Table 4.4. The categorization of the meanings of the word take in the novel gives a way to see the relation between the meanings. The relation is not merely between the members of one category, but also between some categories. Some relations can be drawn clearly and some others are difficult to draw. Series A, Series B, and Series C have the relation of process of grasping and holding. Series B, Series E, and Series F have the relation of possessing something. Series H and Series I have the relation of moving from one place to another place. However, it is not easy to draw the other relations between categories as in Series D, Series G, Series J, Series K, and Series L. The application of semantic roles is required to overcome this difficulty.

2. The Application of Semantic Roles to the Meanings of the Word Take