Meaning

Meaning of words, which is the subject of study in semantics, is one of the more controversial topics in linguistics. At a very simple level, considering the word as the unit of the language system and as a label or name for external world entities, there are two aspects to consider: the outer aspect, or sound form, and the meaning as the inner aspect of the word. A referential approach to word meaning makes this description clearer and distinguishes among three components: (1) sound form (symbol or linguistic sign); (2) referent, that is, the entity or aspect of reality to which the symbol refers; and (3) concept, that is, the notion or thought about the entity, singling out its characteristic properties, closest to meaning. Connection ...