hyperurbanism hypercorrection hypocoristic [Grk hypokoristikón ‘pet name’]

Expression with a diminutive semantic component that is formed by suffixes (cigarette), short forms (Phil), or syllable doubling (choo-choo), and so on. ( also euphemism, word formation)

References

word formation

Term suggested by Lyons (1963) (in analogy to synonymy) for the semantic relation of subordination, i.e. the specification of semantic content. For example, apple is a hyponym of fruit, since apple has a more specific meaning than fruit. In expressions with extensions, the hyponymy can be viewed as the subset relation: l1 (lexeme1) is subordinate to l2 only if the extension of l1 is contained in the extension of l2. Seen intensionally ( intension) with a view to componential analysis, the relation is the inverse: l1 is subordinate to l2 only if l1 contains at least all semantic features of l2, but not vice versa. Apple, pear, plum are co-hyponyms relative to each other and hyponyms of the generic term fruit ( hyperonymy). Every hyponym is distinguished from its hyperonym, or superordinate, by at least one feature that specifies it further. There are at least two heuristic tests for hyponymy: embedded lexemes in suitable contexts, e.g. l1 is of the type l2, or mutual substitution in suitable sentences S(…), whereby S(l1) implies S(l2) (implication). At closer look, it is necessary (a) to view a particular case of hyponymy relative to a given semantic perspective and (b) to test the hyponymy in terms of the actual use of the expressions (see Lutzeier 1981). Since ‘upward branching’ occurs in hyponymy (consider, for example, the relation of mother, woman, and parent), hyponymy does not constitute a true hierarchy.