Definition
An opposite lexical relation is an association between two lexical units which have the opposite core meanings in some contexts.
Introduction
Some cultures base their world view on the dichotomy of opposites. Other cultures recognize relatively few sets of opposite concepts.
Examples
Here are some kinds of opposites in English, their definitions, and example sets:
|
Kind |
Definition and comment |
Example set |
|---|---|---|
|
Complements |
Opposites that have mutually exclusive properties. For example, if people are not dead, they must be alive. |
{(dead, alive), (true, false), (open, shut), (male, female)} |
|
Antonyms |
Opposites that are at two corresponding points or ranges of a scale. For example, if something is not long, it is not necessarily short. There is neutral ground on the scale. |
{(long, short), (good, bad), (hot, cold), (warm, cool)} |
|
Directional converses |
Opposites marking the two directions along an axis. |
{(east, west), (up, down), (convex, concave)} |
|
Relational converses |
Opposites which specify the relative positions of two entities on opposite sides or poles of a spatial or relational axis. |
{(above, below), (in front of, behind)}; {(doctor, patient), (teacher, pupil), (master, servant), (husband, wife)} |
| Underlying structure | |
|
The underlying structure of an opposite set is a set of pairs. |
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| Frames | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Here are some kinds of frames for opposites in English, with examples: |
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Additional information
Underlying Structure
The underlying structure of an opposite set is a set of pairs.
Frames
Here are some kinds of frames for opposites in English, with examples:
|
Kind |
Frame |
Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Complements |
If something is not X, then it has to be Y. |
If something is not true, then it has to be false. |
|
Antonyms |
When measuring or judging in a certain way, something can be either X or Y, or it can be neither. |
When measuring temperature, something can be either hot or cold, or it can be neither. |
|
Directional converses |
If something goes (or faces) X and it turns around, it goes (or faces) Y. |
If something goes up and it turns around, it goes down. |
|
If something is X, oriented the other way it is Y. |
If something is convex, oriented the other way it is concave. |
|
|
Relational converses |
Something is X (in relation to something else). If it is on the opposite side, it is Y. |
Something is in front of the house. If it is on the opposite side, it is behind. |
|
An X and a Y make up an R relationship. |
A husband and a wife make up a marriage relationship. |
Sources 1
- Cruse 1986, 199, 204, 223, 232