What is a semantic field

the semantic field is a concept that is worked on in linguistics and has to do with The meaning of the words. It is a set of words that share, in a certain way, several features of their meaning. The Spanish language is a language that is full of semantic fields.

In this lesson from a PROFESSOR we want to explain what is a semantic field and examples so that you recognize this concept whenever you come across it. Also, knowing the words that complement each other will add a lot of vocabulary to your texts.

As we have mentioned before, a semantic field is a Set of words whose meaning is not the same, but is related.

For example: the semantic field of "flowers" could be carnations, daisies, roses, orchids, sunflowers, etc.

The words that are included in a same semantic field, have similar semantic features, that is, similar meanings. In the previous example, we can see that each of the flowers that we have mentioned is different and has its characteristic features. But all of them can be included in the word flowers, therefore they belong to the same semantic field.

Words that are in the same semantic field they share a core of meaning. Each of the words found in our dictionary belongs to more than one semantic field.

For example: the word "train" could be within the semantic field of "terrestrial transport", but also in that of "holidays".

Now that you know what a semantic field is, we are going to learn about the different types that exist. And it is that the semantic fields can be classified in many ways, since when the meaning of the words comes into play, each person can make their own interpretation. The semantic field types They were defined taking into account the type of relationship that unites the words between them and are the following.

closed semantic field

It is a semantic field that, as its name indicates, is already closed that is, new elements can no longer be added. In itself, it forms a complete field.

For example: the semantic field of the days of the week is very specific: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

No possibility to add no more words to this semantic field, since there are no more days in the week, there are only 7. The same happens with the months of the year or the seasons, the cardinal points, etc.

open semantic field

It's about a very free semantic field, to which we can always add new words and concepts, since it is not closed and allows updates as time goes by.

For example: The semantic field of car accessories is very wide and always admits more words: rear-view mirror, windshield wipers, backrest, covers, carpet, steering wheel, etc.

As cars evolve, there will be new accessories, so this semantic field will always will accept new words.

Gradual semantic field

It is a semantic field in which each of the words by which it is formed, indicates a different degree about the same concept.

For example: In the semantic field of happiness we can find different levels of it: happy, cheerful, happy, enthusiastic, joyful, etc.

Each of the words shows us a positive state of mind, but each of them indicates a different degree of happiness, so in this case they provide nuances different from meaning.

Antonym semantic field

Antonym semantic capos are usually formed by two words and each of them is directly opposite to the other. Creating a direct contradiction between the two meanings. The two words are linked, not because their meaning is similar, but because it is oppositely the opposite.

For example: black/white, happy/sad, open/closed, etc.

As you can see, each of his words is linked to the other, as it is his antagonist.

associative semantic field

The associative semantic field has to do with a spatial concept of the words that we are going to add. That is, each of the words that we will add, are found in a same place or serve for the same thing and for that reason we associate them with each other.

For example: In the semantic field of forest we can find: tree, leaf, squirrel, flora, nature, air, freshness, water, trunk, ant, etc.

As you can see, all the words that are part of the associative semantic field of forest are located side by side in space.

Linear semantic field

Each of the elements found in the linear semantic field has a relation to the previous one and to the next one, to form a neat line.

For example: in the semantic field of the times of the day we can find: morning, noon, afternoon, night, dawn.

That is to say, for understand every moment of the day, you must take into account those that have already preceded it and those that are yet to come.

In this lesson we discover what is the main difference between semantic field and associative field.

Now it's time to put into practice everything you've learned so far through some exercises. We suggest that you try to make them by searching for most of the words that come to mind and that you do not settle for a couple, but instead create very extensive semantic fields.

Exercise 1

We propose some words, so that you squeeze your brain to the fullest, to find the semantic field as wide as you can:

• Dairy products
• countries
• letters of the alphabet
• Park
• Cookware

Exercise 2

Now let's do it the other way around. We will give you the semantic field already developed and you will have to discover what is the word that unites all the others in its meaning:

• Cheese cake, chocolate volcano, flan, ice cream, lemon mousse, strawberry cake, bread pudding, lemon pie.
• Toulouse, Barcelona, ​​Venice, Prague, Warsaw, Girona, Saint Petersburg, Krakow, Frankfurt.
• Julio Cortázar, Jorge Luis Borges, Adolfo Bioy Casares, Roberto Arlt, Ricardo Piglia, Abelardo Castillo.
• Brad Pitt, Tom Hanks, Catherine Zeta Jones, Sandra Bullock, Leonardo DiCaprio, Michael Douglas.
• The secret of his eyes, Waiting for the float, The distinguished citizen, Nine queens, The truce, The official story.

Exercise 3

We leave you with some semantic fields already developed. That is to say, you will already have the nucleus that unites them, all the words that make up the field and your task will be to discover what type of semantic field they belong to:

• Team sports. Soccer, basketball, volleyball, handball, baseball.
• Rainbow colors. Red, Yellow, Orange, Cyan, Violet, Blue, Green.
• Big small.
• Cinema: Popcorn, movie, seats, Tarantino, band, horror, actor, tickets, Oscar, suspense.
• Relatives: uncles, cousin, grandmother, grandson, father, brother, son, father, nephew, aunt, great-granddaughter.

We recommend that, before consulting this section, you have tried to do the exercises by yourself, as this is the best way for a lesson to stay etched in your mind forever.

Solutions of exercise 1

We show you what is the semantic field of the previous words:

• Dairy products. Milk, butter, ice cream, cream, yogurt, cheese.
• countries. Argentina, Spain, Egypt, Norway, China, Afghanistan, Australia, Chile, Nepal, Paraguay, New Zealand.
• Alphabet letters. A, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, l, m, n, ñ, o, p q, r, s, t, u, v, w, x, y, z.
• Park. Grass, bench, handrails, merry-go-round, butterflies, trees, shade, picnic, ball, children, skates.
• Cookware. Knife, fork, spoon, teaspoon, whisk, can opener.

Solutions of exercise 2

We show you what is the word that joins each previous semantic field:

• Desserts
• european cities
• writers
• Hollywood actors
• Films

Solutions of exercise 3

We show you what is the type of each semantic field from the previous year:

• Open
• Closed
• Antonym
• associative
• Open

Now you know What is a semantic field and we have shown you some examples. If you are interested in continuing to learn more about this topic or something similar, do not hesitate to consult our grammar and linguistics section.