Name:

 Sri Sundariyanti (20188100043)

MPONENTIAL ANALYSIS  Khoirunnisa afifah(20168100115)

 Mariyatul Qibthiyah(20188100076)
 Muhammad Akmal Kahar
(20188100058)
1. COMPONENTS OF MEANING

Palmer says that the total meaning of a word can be seen in terms of a number of distinct elements or components of
meaning (1976: 85). Components have a distinguishing function and serve to distinguish the meaning of a lexeme from
that of semantically related lexemes, or more accurately they serve to distinguish among the meanings of lexemes in the
same semantic domain. To determine the meaning of any form contrast must be found, for there is no meaning apart
from significant differences.
Jackson in “Words and their meaning” (1996: 83) dan Nida in “Componential Analysis of Meaning” (1975: 32) categorize
the types of components into two main types, i.e. common component and diagnostic or distinctive component.

a. Common component. This is the central component which is shared by all the lexemes in the same semantic domain
or lexical field

b. Diagnostic or distinctive components. They serve to distinguish the meaning from others from the same domain. A
very simple example to explain these two types is provided by the words man, woman, boy, girl, and other related
words in English (Leech, 1976: 96). These words all belong to the semantic field of ‘human race’ and the relations
between them may be represented by the following matrix.
Tabel 1. Common and Diagnostic Components of the words man, woman, boy, and girl In the semantic
domain of man, woman, boy, and girl, [human] is the common component, and they are distinguished
by [adult], [male], [female] as the diagnostic components. The meanings of the individual items can
then be expressed by combinations of these features:

Man +[human] +[adult] +[male]

Woman +[human] +[adult] -[male]

Boy +[human] -[adult] +[male]

Girl +[human] -[adult] -[male]

 Before going further with the componential approach, it is important to consider possible differences
in the roles of diagnostic components (Nida, 1975: 38). The differences can be best designated as (1)
implicational, (2) core, and (3) inferential. Implicational component are those implied by a particular
meaning, though they do not form an essential part of the core meaning. On the contrary, implicational
components remain associated with a meaning, even when other components are negativized by the
context. The word repent has three diagnostic components: (1) previous wrong behavior, (2) contrition for
what has been done, and (3) change of behavior, and the first component is implicational. Whether in a
positive or negative context, e.g. he repented of what he did or he didn’t repent of what he did, the
implication is that the person in question did something wrong. The negation affects the core components
which specify the central aspects of the event, but does not modify the implicational component.

The inferential components of meanings are those which may be infered from the use of an
expression, but which are not regarded as obligatory, core elements. In the expression the policeman shot
the thief, ‘the thief was killed’ is the inference, and without further contextual condition assumed to be
the case. However, it is possible to deny this inference, e.g. ‘the policeman shot the thief but didn’t kill
him’. At the same time an inferential component may be explicitly stated, e.g. the policeman shot the thief
to death or the policeman shot and killed the thief.
2. COMPONENTIAL ANALYSIS OF MEANING:
DEFINITION AND HISTORY

Componential analisis (CA) is based on the presumption that the meaning of a word is composed
of semantic components. So the essential features that form the meaning are elementary units on
semantic level. By componential analysis, it is possible to state the smallest indivisible units of lexis or
minimal components (Aitchison, 2003: 92).

CA is particularly applicable to distinguishing the meanings of lexemes that are semantically

related or in the same semantic domain. It is often seen as a process of breaking down the sense of a
word into its minimal distinctive features; that is, into components which contrast with other
components. It refers to the description of the meaning of words through structured sets of semantic
features, which are given as “present”, “absent” or “indifferent with reference to feature”. To describe
the presence and absence of a feature binnary rules are used. The symbol ‘+’ means the feature is
present, while ‘-‘ means the feature is absent (Saeed, 2009: 260).
 Structural semantics and CA were patterned on the phonological methods of the Prague
School, which described sounds by determining the absence and presence of features (Jackson,
1996: 80). The method thus departs from the principle of compositionality (Saeed, 2009: 265).
The lexical decomposition (or componential) approach to lexical semantics became one of the
most influential in the 1960-1970s. In this theory, word meanings were broken down into
semantic primitives or semantic features and their specifications.

CA is a method typical of structural semantics which analyzes the structure of a words

meaning. Thus, it reveals the culturally important features by which speakers of the language
distinguish different words in the domain. This is a highly valuable approach to learning
another language and understanding a specific semantic domain of an Ethnography.
Furthermore, Leech (1976: 98) states “as a distinctive technique, componential analysis first
evolved in anthropological linguistics as a means of studying relations between kinship terms,
but it has since proved its usefulness in many spheres of meaning”.
The semantic domain where componential analysis was first used with some success was kinship

terminology. Kinship terms are conventionally described in relation to a given person, technically

termed by the latin equivalent of the pronoun I: ego. There are some components needed to

analyze the terms, they are gender and generation (in respect of ego). For examples, brother and

sister are the same generation as ego. While father and mother are one generation above

(ascending generation) and son and daughter are one generation below (descending generation).

We therefore need two semantic components to distinguish the generation: [ASCENDING] and

[DESCENDING]. Gender and generation are not sufficient in distinguishing the meanings, we then

need another component to contrast ‘direct’ or ‘lineal’ descent and ‘collateral’ descent. A

semantic component of ‘LINEAL’ is then proposed. Below is the matrix which represents unique

analysis of each term in the kinship system.

3. PROCEDURAL STEPS IN THE
COMPONENTIAL ANALYSIS OF MEANING

Componential analysis (CA) can only be done within the same semantic domain. There are three basic
steps in the procedure for determining the diagnostic features (Nida, 1975: 48), they are:

1. determining the common features and line up all the apparently relevant differences in form and
possibly related functions;

2. studying the relations of the features to one another, in order to determine the redundancies and
dependencies; and

3. formulating a set of diagnostic features and testing such a set for adequacy.
 Furthermore, Nida has developed these three basic steps into six procedural steps which are important for
analyzing the components of a related set of meanings (1975: 54-61).

a. Conducting a tentative selection of meanings which appear to be closely related, in the sense that they
constitute a relatively well-defined semantic domain by virtue of sharing a number of common components.

b. Listing all the specific kinds of referents for each of the meanings belonging to the domain in question..

c. Determining those components which may be true of the meanings of one or more terms, but not of all the
terms in question. ‘

d. Determining the diagnostic components applicable to each meaning

e. Cross-checking with the data obtained by the first procedure. On the basis of the diagnostic features, one should
be able to apply the correct terms to the referents known to possess such features.

f. Describing the diagnostic features systematically. It may be done simply by listing the diagnostic features for each
meaning (or term) or the arrangement of such data in the form of a tree diagram or matrix.
4. LINGUISTIC BASIS FOR
COMPONENTIAL ANALYSIS
The actual linguistic procedures employed in CA consists of four types, they are naming, paraphrasing, defining, and classifying. If
elicitation of usage is carefully conducted and if the results of such a procedure are carefully checked against spontaneous utterances,
there is every reason to believe that the results of using the four basic processes of naming, paraphrasing, defining, and classifying can be
essentially accurate (Nida, 1975: 64-66).

a. naming The process of naming is in certain respects similar to reference, though the perspective is somewhat different. Reference is
usually described as the relation established between linear unit and a referent, while naming is the specific act of designating a
referent.

b. paraphrasing Paraphrasing is also an important linguistic function and one can spell out the distinctive features of any semantic unit by
employing certain types of paraphrases. Uncle can be paraphrased into my father’s brother or my mother’s brother.

c. defining The process of defining would seem to be simply another form of paraphrase, but defining is a highly specialized form of
paraphrase and is rarely used in actual language situations. It consists essentially in combining all the various specific paraphrases into a
single statement based on the diagnostic components of the particular meaning in question. Uncle may be defined as the brother of one’s
father or mother or the husband of one’s aunt.

d. classifying It involves a triple procedure: (1) lumping together those units which have certain features in common, (2) separating out
those units which are distinct from one another, and (3) determining the basis for such groupings. Classification is never merely a process
of putting referents into conceptual files for the basic kinship terms in English, it is essential to establish the features of sex, generation,
5. CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE STUDY
OF MEANING.
Componential analysis has a useful part to play in contributing to the description of meanings of lexemes (Jackson, 2009: 91-92). Here are
some of the contributions.

1. Understanding synonymy. A pair of true synonyms will share the same set of semantic components. For example, adult and grown-up
have the same components [+HUMAN] [+ADULT].

2. Establishing degrees of synonymy.We may talk of looser synonymy where a pair of lexemes have some but not all semantic
components in common. For example, barn and shed would be looser synonyms. They share components [BUILDING], [STORAGE], but
barn has additional component of [FARM] and perhaps that of [FOR CEREALS], while shed has perhaps the additional component
[HOUSE].

3. Understanding antonymy. A pair of antonyms usually share all their components except one, e.g man and woman share the
components [+CONCRETE], [+ANIMATE], [+HUMAN], but they are contrasted by the component [MALE].

4. Understanding the sense relation of hyponymy. Hyponymy refers to the relation of inclusion of meaning, e.g. the fact that the
meaning of rat is included in the meaning of rodent. e. Helping translator to produce accurate translation. CA Determines the essential
features of meaning of lexical units, which is very useful in doing translation (Nida, 1975: 7).
6. BASIC DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED IN THE ANALYSIS OF
SEMANTIC COMPONENTS

A number of fundamental difficulties are involved in determining the diagnostic components of the meanings of semantic unit (Nida, 1975:
61-64).

The lack of an adequate metalanguage with which to describe some of the diversities. It is difficult enough to speak of distinctions in color, so that
a contiguous series such as violet, blue, purple, green, yellow, orange, and red can be properly described in terms of diagnostic components.
Another obvious example involves the semantic domain of odors: stink, smell, stench, and malodor, or the semantic domain of noises seperti
scream, screech, squeak, and squeal.

 Meanings which constitute a contiguous set. The meaning of even in contexts such as even john kissed Marry, John even kissed Marry, and John
kissed even Marry is paralleled to some extent by only, e.g.only John kissed Marry, John only kissed marry, and John kissed only Marry. The related
meanings of even, only, and just are contiguous, therefore one must look for other sets of contrast to provide the basis for componential analysis.

 Some terms which primarily differ only in the degree of intensity. There may be no absolute feature which marks the difference but by only a
relative contrast. Toss and hurl may be regarded as types of throwing, but the major difference is one of intensity, and accordingly one must
reckon with a continuum on which there is no fixed boundary between the two. The speed at which a professional baseball player may toss a ball
may be much faster than the speed at which some amateur ball players can hurl.

 The meanings of certain terms exist only in one’s passive vocabulary. One may, for example, have a general idea of the meanings of saunter,
stroll, and meander, as referring to ways of walking, but the fact that these terms are not in one’s active vocabulary tends to make it difficult to
determine how and to what extent such meanings differ.
The diversity of view points, especially in describing spatial relations. For a house one can speak of behind and in front
of, since a house is regarded as having a back and front. But when one speaks of behind a tree and in front of a tree,
the spatial relation must be relative to a view point character or existing situation. Time involves similar difficulties.
 The meaning of many abstract terms. It involves a number of complications because of their potential syntagmatic
relations to so many events and entities. A word such as lousy may occur with a vast number of different semantic
heads, e.g. lousy meal, lousy person, lousy time, lousy deal, lousy weather,lousy grades, lousy book, lousy performance,
etc. None of which have anything to do with a louse.
 A word can have different meanings in different fields. The word competence is used in the fields of linguistics,
education dan psychology, and they define and use it in different ways and contexts.
 Deixis terms. The different meanings and use of “there and here” and “this and that” depend primarily on space and
time.
 Distinctions may be based on relations rather than on physical features. Certain aspects of complications have already
been noted in the discussions of kinship terms, but meanings reflected in suh terms as friend, partner, colleague, and
associate are even more difficult to analyze.
The componential analysis becomes much more complex when the relation describe logical arrangements, as with if,
though, because, in order to, etc.
7. APPLICABILITY AND
UNIVERSALITY
Is there then a set of semantic components which is universal and from which the meanings
of lexemes in all languages are composed? If there is, we do not have yet the knowledge or the
metalanguage to specify what such a set might be. Some words are also culture-bound, which
means the meaning distinctions that are relevant to one culture may not fit another culture at
all. For example, all cultures have kinship systems, but they are often organized in a quite
different way (Jackson, 1991: 91).

Componential analysis is also limited in its range of applicability as it does not apply easily to
all areas of the vocabulary. Semantic components, when they can be identified, have a
discriminatory function and they add to our understanding of the meaning of a lexeme by
providing points of contrast with semantically related lexemes. The meaning of a lexeme must
also involve a number of perspectives, e.g. denotation, sense relations, and collocation.
 Another problem of its application which shows its limitation is the fact that componential analysis (among other
types of meaning) only focuses on referential meaning. In other words, it is only concerned with the relation
between the lexical unit and the referent, and the meanings of lexemes which refer to objects. It is important to
consider that not all words have referents (Nida, 1975: 25).

Some linguists also believe that componential analysis account naturally for overlaps, since one can point to
components which are apparently shared by overlapping words. Cow, princess and tigrees overlap because the share
the component [FEMALE]. It is also somewhat inaccurate to speak of the meaning of words as being composed out
of a heap of separate components. At best, these socalled components form only a small part of the overall meaning
of the word in question, and the whole approach wrongly suggests that if we look a little more carefully, we may be
able to sort out all of them. The words ‘components’ and ‘componential analysis’ have therefore faded out of
fashion. Nowadays, people tend to talk of words having semantic properties, which is somewhat more satisfactory,
since it does not imply that these properties are building blocks which need to be assembled.

It works best with taxonomies (sytems of classification, e.g. inship) or sets of concrete objects. It is of more
doubtful value in describing the meanings of more abstract lexemes, not least because we lack an adequate
metalanguage. Consider the set of lexemes: annoy, irritate, vex, displease, and provoke. They all refer to the ways of
causing someone to be angry or to feel angry, any member of the set is frequently defined in terms of one or more of
the members. We may conclude therefore that there is no universal set of semantic components from which the
meanings of lexemes are composed.
CONCLUSION
 

Components serve to distinguish among the meanings of semantically related lexemes in the same
semantic domain. Analysis in terms of components, when the total meaning of a lexeme is seen in terms of a
number of distinct elements or components of meanings, is not sufficient but can help to define the meaning
of a lexeme formed by a number of semantic signs. Through six careful procedural steps of analysis which are
simplified into four basic processes of naming, paraphrasing, defining, and classifying, componential analysis
has been a useful approach to determine the meaning of a lexeme.

Since the meaning of a lexeme involves a number of perpectives, knowledge on the dimensions of
meanings and metalanguage is very essential to make this analysis work. Despite its usefulness in the analysis
of meaning, we may encounter difficulties and limitations in applying the theory. It can not be applied easily
to all areas of the vocabulary, due to in part metalanguage and cultural problems. In terms of its universality, it
can be concluded that there is no universal set of semantic components from which the meanings of lexemes
are composed.
THANK YOU