tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7983828.post6853254230057319281..comments2024-01-15T23:32:18.495-06:00Comments on Metrolingua: ContronymsMargaret Larkinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06421277669200495407noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7983828.post-63349711464651926442009-03-28T11:36:00.000-05:002009-03-28T11:36:00.000-05:00Thank you for your insightful post. I suppose that...Thank you for your insightful post. I suppose that for these examples, "pivot" would probably be more appropriate than "shift" since it is the initial concept being spun in a different way at the same time since rather than one meaning replacing another completely over time.<BR/><BR/>The reason why I used "semantic shift" is because initially many contronyms (including "sanction") had only one meaning that was extended gradually over time to encompass the opposite meaning, as well. There is an initial meaning and an equally valid opposite meaning resulting from this pivot (or shift) at some point. <BR/><BR/>A contronym is defined as "A contronym is like a word that has undergone semantic reversal, only the tension has not eased: the word still preserves its original meaning, along with a contradictory -- if not exactly counterposed -- meaning." ( http://www.langmaker.com/ml0104.htm).<BR/><BR/>"As hell" may be a special exception and may have always meant "extremely" in such flexible terms. Maybe it has not. Practically speaking, however, considering it can be used to modify opposite adjectives, the term does appear to contradict itself, such as when someone is described as "funny as hell" and the next person as "boring as hell."<BR/>Cheers, SilasAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7983828.post-11286689272972792922009-03-27T03:07:00.000-05:002009-03-27T03:07:00.000-05:00Some of these opposed meanings come not from a sem...Some of these opposed meanings come not from a semantic "shift" so much as a pivot...a core concept that can be swung in opposite ways, depending on context. Take sanction. At its root it deals with legal action (originally church law - it's cognate with "sanctity"). Well, some laws establish things and some laws prohibit them, but though the results may be "opposed" the action of carrying out law is essentially the same. "Drawing" a curtain merely means pulling or dragging...whether closed or open is simply an accident of the curtain's initial position which technically has nothing to do with the meaning of the verb at all. Your example of hell? That's not opposite meaning so much as an example of "hell" as a term of extremity - like "a hell of a good time". (Though if you want to go all Dantean, there ARE spots in hell that are hot and others that are cold!) <BR/>It's like when people say "In Hawaiian, the same word means 'hello' and 'goodbye'! How weird is that"! But the word in question, 'aloha', actually MEANS 'love.' It's said in welcome, it's said on departure ... and isn't it nice to know you're loved whether coming or going?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7983828.post-30132011466452787322009-01-23T20:41:00.000-06:002009-01-23T20:41:00.000-06:00Thanks for visiting!Thanks for visiting!Margaret Larkinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06421277669200495407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7983828.post-23768734594837223392009-01-23T16:27:00.000-06:002009-01-23T16:27:00.000-06:00My personal favorites are sect/secular and the old...My personal favorites are sect/secular and the old vs. new slang-ish meaning of "livid."<BR/><BR/>Great post and great blog!Fledgelingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01032102128851770989noreply@blogger.com