SEMANTIC LEVEL
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the problem
Indonesian language education today can be likened to an old car with a cranky engine
and is crossing traffic lanes on a freeway. Why not, on the one hand the world of Indonesian
language education is currently plagued by big problems and on the other hand the challenges
facing the third millennium are getting bigger. From a quality aspect, our Indonesian
language education is indeed very concerning compared to the quality of education of other
nations.
Semantics is a branch of linguistics that is at the level of meaning. Verhaar, in Pateda
(2010: 7) says that semantics is a theory of meaning or theory of meaning (English semantics
is the adjective semantic which in Indonesian is equivalent to the word semantics as a noun
and semantics as an adjective). The word semantics is agreed as a term used for the field of
linguistics which studies the relationship between linguistic signs and the things they signify,
(Chaer, 1995: 2).
In line with the development of the era, the development of language also develops and
experiences shifts in meaning. Shifts in the meaning of language cannot be avoided, this is
influenced by many factors which will be discussed in depth later in the discussion. On that
basis, it is not surprising that in recent years in Indonesia, various words have appeared that
have many new meanings. However, the meaning that was attached first did not just
disappear. Changes in the meaning of a word that occur, are sometimes almost unnoticed by
the language users themselves. For this reason, it is necessary for us to know and understand
linguistics as a whole.
B. Formulation of the problem
Based on the background above, the problem can be formulated as follows:
1. What is the meaning of semantics?
2. What are Signs, Symbols, Concepts and Definitions?
3. What are the types of Semantics?
4. What is the sense of meaning?
, 5. What is the meaning change factor?
6. What are the types of meaning according to experts?
7. Understanding of Lexical Meaning and Grammatical Meaning?
8. What is meant by a change in Meaning?
C. Writing purpose
Based on the formulation of the problem, the purpose of writing this paper is to:
1. Explain the meaning of semantics?
2. Display Signs, Symbols, Concepts and Definitions?
3. Describe the types of Semantics?
4. Explain the meaning?
5. Describe the meaning change factor?
6. Describe the types of meaning according to experts?
7. Explain Lexical Meaning and Grammatical Meaning?
8. Describe the type of change in meaning?
CHAPTER II
DISCUSSION
A. Definition of Semantics
The word semantics comes from the Greek word sema which means sign or
sign. "Semantics" was first used by a French philologist named Michel Breal in 1883.
The word semantics was later agreed upon as a term used for the field of linguistics
which studies linguistic signs with the things they signify. Therefore, the word
semantics can be interpreted as the science of meaning or about meaning, which is
one of the three levels of language analysis: phonology, grammar, and semantics
(Chaer, 1994: 2). Semantics (from the Greek: semantikos, giving a sign, important,
from the word sema, sign) is a branch of linguistics that studies the meanings
contained in a language, code, or other types of representation. In other words,
semantics is the study of meaning. Semantics is usually associated with two other
aspects: syntax, the formation of complex symbols from simpler symbols, and
pragmatics, the practical use of symbols by communities in specific contexts.
The semantic analysis must also be realized, because language is unique, and
has a very close relationship with cultural issues, so the analysis of a language only
, applies to that language, but cannot be used to analyze other languages. For example,
the word fish in Indonesian refers to a type of animal that lives in water and is usually
eaten as a side dish; and in English it is equivalent to fish. However, the word iwak in
Javanese does not only mean 'fish' or 'fish', but also means meat used as a side dish.
Understanding Semantics According to Experts
Following are some semantic meanings according to experts, consisting of:
a. According to Ferdinand de Saussure (1966)
Put forward the semantics, which consists of (1) the interpreting
component, which is in the form of the sound forms of language and (2) the
interpreted component or the meaning of the first component. These two
components are signs or symbols, while what is marked or symbolized is
something different outside the language that is commonly called the referent
or the thing designated.
b. According to Tarigan (1985: 2)
Says that semantics can be used in a broad sense and in a narrow sense.
Semantics in a narrow sense can be interpreted as the study of the relationship
between signs and objects that are the container for the application of these
signs.
c. According to Verharr (2001: 384)
It can be divided into two, namely grammatical semantics and lexical
semantics. The term semantics is used by linguists to refer to a branch of
linguistics which operates at the level of meaning or linguistics which studies
meaning.
d. According to Chaer (2009: 6-11)
Semantics based on the level or part of the language which is the
object of investigation can be divided into four, namely (1) lexical semantics
which is a type of semantics whose research object is the lexicon of a
language, (2) grammatical semantics which is a type of semantics whose
research object is the meanings grammatical meaning from the morphological
level, (3) syntactical semantics which is a type of semantics whose research
objectives are based on matters relating to syntax, (4) semantic intent which is
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the problem
Indonesian language education today can be likened to an old car with a cranky engine
and is crossing traffic lanes on a freeway. Why not, on the one hand the world of Indonesian
language education is currently plagued by big problems and on the other hand the challenges
facing the third millennium are getting bigger. From a quality aspect, our Indonesian
language education is indeed very concerning compared to the quality of education of other
nations.
Semantics is a branch of linguistics that is at the level of meaning. Verhaar, in Pateda
(2010: 7) says that semantics is a theory of meaning or theory of meaning (English semantics
is the adjective semantic which in Indonesian is equivalent to the word semantics as a noun
and semantics as an adjective). The word semantics is agreed as a term used for the field of
linguistics which studies the relationship between linguistic signs and the things they signify,
(Chaer, 1995: 2).
In line with the development of the era, the development of language also develops and
experiences shifts in meaning. Shifts in the meaning of language cannot be avoided, this is
influenced by many factors which will be discussed in depth later in the discussion. On that
basis, it is not surprising that in recent years in Indonesia, various words have appeared that
have many new meanings. However, the meaning that was attached first did not just
disappear. Changes in the meaning of a word that occur, are sometimes almost unnoticed by
the language users themselves. For this reason, it is necessary for us to know and understand
linguistics as a whole.
B. Formulation of the problem
Based on the background above, the problem can be formulated as follows:
1. What is the meaning of semantics?
2. What are Signs, Symbols, Concepts and Definitions?
3. What are the types of Semantics?
4. What is the sense of meaning?
, 5. What is the meaning change factor?
6. What are the types of meaning according to experts?
7. Understanding of Lexical Meaning and Grammatical Meaning?
8. What is meant by a change in Meaning?
C. Writing purpose
Based on the formulation of the problem, the purpose of writing this paper is to:
1. Explain the meaning of semantics?
2. Display Signs, Symbols, Concepts and Definitions?
3. Describe the types of Semantics?
4. Explain the meaning?
5. Describe the meaning change factor?
6. Describe the types of meaning according to experts?
7. Explain Lexical Meaning and Grammatical Meaning?
8. Describe the type of change in meaning?
CHAPTER II
DISCUSSION
A. Definition of Semantics
The word semantics comes from the Greek word sema which means sign or
sign. "Semantics" was first used by a French philologist named Michel Breal in 1883.
The word semantics was later agreed upon as a term used for the field of linguistics
which studies linguistic signs with the things they signify. Therefore, the word
semantics can be interpreted as the science of meaning or about meaning, which is
one of the three levels of language analysis: phonology, grammar, and semantics
(Chaer, 1994: 2). Semantics (from the Greek: semantikos, giving a sign, important,
from the word sema, sign) is a branch of linguistics that studies the meanings
contained in a language, code, or other types of representation. In other words,
semantics is the study of meaning. Semantics is usually associated with two other
aspects: syntax, the formation of complex symbols from simpler symbols, and
pragmatics, the practical use of symbols by communities in specific contexts.
The semantic analysis must also be realized, because language is unique, and
has a very close relationship with cultural issues, so the analysis of a language only
, applies to that language, but cannot be used to analyze other languages. For example,
the word fish in Indonesian refers to a type of animal that lives in water and is usually
eaten as a side dish; and in English it is equivalent to fish. However, the word iwak in
Javanese does not only mean 'fish' or 'fish', but also means meat used as a side dish.
Understanding Semantics According to Experts
Following are some semantic meanings according to experts, consisting of:
a. According to Ferdinand de Saussure (1966)
Put forward the semantics, which consists of (1) the interpreting
component, which is in the form of the sound forms of language and (2) the
interpreted component or the meaning of the first component. These two
components are signs or symbols, while what is marked or symbolized is
something different outside the language that is commonly called the referent
or the thing designated.
b. According to Tarigan (1985: 2)
Says that semantics can be used in a broad sense and in a narrow sense.
Semantics in a narrow sense can be interpreted as the study of the relationship
between signs and objects that are the container for the application of these
signs.
c. According to Verharr (2001: 384)
It can be divided into two, namely grammatical semantics and lexical
semantics. The term semantics is used by linguists to refer to a branch of
linguistics which operates at the level of meaning or linguistics which studies
meaning.
d. According to Chaer (2009: 6-11)
Semantics based on the level or part of the language which is the
object of investigation can be divided into four, namely (1) lexical semantics
which is a type of semantics whose research object is the lexicon of a
language, (2) grammatical semantics which is a type of semantics whose
research object is the meanings grammatical meaning from the morphological
level, (3) syntactical semantics which is a type of semantics whose research
objectives are based on matters relating to syntax, (4) semantic intent which is
