Semasiology

Semasiology (from σημασία, sēmasía, "signification") is a branch of linguistics concerned with the meaning of linguistic expressions, particularly words and phrases. It addresses the question: "What does the word X mean?" Semasiology begins with a specific word or expression and investigates its various meanings and semantic evolution. It is often contrasted with onomasiology, which begins with a concept and asks how it can be expressed linguistically, e.g., "How do you express the concept of X?"^[1]

Historical background

The term "semasiology" was first introduced by German philologist Christian Karl Reisig in 1825 in his work Vorlesungen über lateinische Sprachwissenschaft (Lectures on Latin Linguistics).^[2] Reisig defined semasiology as the study of how words acquire and evolve in meaning through usage, context, and cultural influence.^[3]

The term entered English linguistic literature by 1847 and was catalogued in major English dictionaries by the early 20th century.^[4] The discipline remained in use until Michel Bréal introduced the term "semantics" in 1893, which gradually replaced "semasiology" in much of linguistic academia.^[5]

Definition and scope

Semasiology focuses on the internal semantic structure of words and the systems that govern meaning. It includes studies of:

• Polysemy — multiple meanings for a single word
• Semantic change — the historical evolution of meaning
• Contextual meaning — how meanings vary by usage
• Lexical fields — groupings of related meanings

Semasiology is considered part of both semantics and lexical semantics, dealing primarily with word-level meanings and their classification.^[6]

Semasiology vs Onomasiology

Semasiology and onomasiology represent two opposite yet complementary approaches:

• Semasiology: Word → Meaning
• Onomasiology: Concept → Word

This dichotomy is central in lexical studies, especially in structuralist and cognitive linguistics. Onomasiology typically aids naming conventions and terminology creation, while semasiology is more historical and analytic.^[7]

Modern usage and decline

Since the late 19th century, the use of "semasiology" has diminished, particularly in English-speaking scholarship, where "semantics" has become dominant. However, the term remains in use in several European contexts, such as in Russian and German academic circles.^[8]

See also

• Onomasiology
• Semasiography
• Semiotics