Routledge Dictionary of Language and Linguistics.pdf

Dictionary of language and linguistics 518homonymy, semanticsReferenceshomonym clashhomonym conflicthomonym conflict (also homonym clash)Homonym conflict arises from the phonetic similarity, or homophony, of two or morehomonyms and is frequently associated with at least one of the following features: (a)paradigmatic similarity, i.e. homonyms of the same word class are more likely to conflict,e.g. ME heal and hele (‘to cover, hide’); (b) syntactic confusion, i.e. ‘homonyms’ may becreated through phonetic similarity brought about in certain syntactic environments, e.g.ME ear and nere (‘kidney’) conflicting in the syntactic environment of an ear vs a nere;(c) occurrence in the same lexical field or domain, e.g. OFr. *gat (‘cat’ and ‘cock’), bothagricultural terms. Homonym conflict may be avoided by (a) differentiation of gender insome languages, e.g. Ger. der/das Band (‘volume’/‘ribbon’); (b) orthographic distinction,e.g. plane vs plain ( homography); (c) lexical expansion, e.g. light (in weight)>lightweightvs light (in color)> light-colored; and (d) loss or replacement of one of theconflicting words, e.g. ME quēn (‘queen’) vs (‘harlot’). Apparent aversion tohomonym conflict is offset by the fact that a language may at any given time havenumerous instances of potentially conflicting homonyms, as illustrated by the Englishhomophonic pairs flower: flour and pray: prey.ReferencesMalkiel, Y. 1979. Problems in the diachronic differentiation of near-homophones. Lg 55. 1–36.Menner, R.J. 1936. The conflict of homonyms in English. Lg 12. 229–44.Wartburg, W.von. 1943. Einführung in die Problematik und Methodik der Sprachwissenschaft.Halle. (3rd rev. edn Tübingen, 1970.)Williams, E.R. 1944. The conflict of homonyms in English. New Haven, CT.homonymy, polysemy, semantics