sémantique

Forms

sémantique (plural sémantiques)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek σημαντικός (sēmantikós, “signifying, indicating”), used as a noun.^[2][3][4] The Greek adjective is from σημαίνω (sēmaínō, “to mark with a sign, to signify”), from σῆμα (sêma, “sign, mark”).^[3][5][6] Bloch and Wartburg note that Michel Bréal coined the word in contrast to phonétique, and that the Greek phrase he gave as its model is a reconstruction.^[7]

An isolated adjective symentique of 1561 is usually cited as the first record,^[8][3][4] but the TLF-Étym sets it aside because its sense is unclear.^[2] English semantic (1894) comes from the French word.^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

The revised TLF-Étym finds it first in 1874, in a review signed by Bréal's grammar seminar at the École pratique des hautes études, for the study of language from the point of view of meaning.^[2] Earlier dictionaries date it from Bréal's use in 1879 or 1883.^[8][9][4][7]

Semantic evolution

In 1875 Larousse also recorded it as a military term for moving troops by signals, now obsolete.^[8][3][5] The linguistic word, taken up by Bréal in 1879 and made known by his Essai de sémantique (1897), replaced sémasiologie.^[2][3] From 1887 it also meant the relation between a language's signs and what they refer to.^[2]

The adjective, “relating to meaning”, is recorded from 1897.^[2][8][3] In the 20th century the noun was used in logic (1955) and in philosophical disciplines named after the English semantics.^[2][3] Champ sémantique “semantic field” (1946) is a calque of the German Bedeutungsfeld.^[2]

Timeline

• 1561 – Isolated symentique, of uncertain sense.^[8][2]
• 1874 – First record as the name of a branch of linguistics.^[2]
• 1875 – Larousse records a military sense, signalling.^[8][3]
• 1879 – Michel Bréal uses it in a letter.^[8][2]
• 1894 – English semantic is first recorded.^[6]
• 1897 – The adjective appears;^[2][3] Bréal publishes his Essai de sémantique.^[2][3]
• 1913 – The derivative sémantisme is recorded.^[8][3]
• 1946 – Champ sémantique is first recorded.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. (linguistics) semantics: the study of language from the point of view of meaning.^[8][9]
2. (logic) The study of the relations between signs and what they refer to.^[2][3]
3. (obsolete, military) The art of moving troops by signals.^[8][5]

Adjective

1. semantic: relating to meaning: une différence sémantique.^[8][9]
2. Champ sémantique: a semantic field.^[2]

Word family

• sémantisme
• sémanticien

Related words

• sémaphore
• sémiotique
• Ancient Greek σημαντικός (sēmantikós)
• English semantic

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Steinfeld, Nadine; Buchi, Éva, eds. (2005–), TLF-Étym: révision des notices étymologiques du Trésor de la langue française informatisé, Nancy: ATILF
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
5. ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
6. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
7. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
9. ^ a b c Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert