Paronyms (gr. para - near + onima - name) are words of the same root, similar in sound, but not the same in meaning: signature - painting, dress - put on, main - capital. Paronyms, as a rule, refer to one part of speech and perform similar syntactic functions in a sentence.
Taking into account the peculiarities of word formation of paronyms, the following groups can be distinguished.
- Paronyms distinguished by prefixes: typos - imprints, pay - pay;
- Paronyms that differ by suffixes: unrequited - irresponsible, creature - essence; businessman - business traveler;
- Paronyms that differ in the nature of the base: one has a non-derivative base, the other - a derivative. In this case, the pair may include:
- a) words with a non-derivative base and prefixes: height - age;
- b) words with a non-derivative base and non-prefixed words with suffixes: brake - braking;
- c) words with a non-derivative base and words with a prefix and suffix: load - load.
Semantically, two groups are found among paronyms.
1. Paronyms that differ in subtle shades of meaning: long - long, desirable - desirable, maned - maned, life - everyday, diplomatic - diplomatic, etc. There are a majority of such paronyms; their meanings are commented on in linguistic dictionaries (explanatory dictionaries, dictionaries of difficulties, dictionaries of single-root words, dictionaries of paronyms). Many of them are characterized by features in lexical compatibility; cf.: economic consequences - economical housekeeping, rich inheritance - difficult legacy; perform a task - perform a song.
2. Paronyms that differ sharply in meaning: nest - nesting, defective - defective. There are few such units in the language.
A special group of paronyms consists of those that are distinguished by functional-style fixation or stylistic coloring; Wed: work (general use) - work (simple and special) live (general use) - live (official).
Some authors interpret the phenomenon of paronymy in an expanded manner, classifying as paronyms any words that sound similar in sound (and not just words with the same root). In this case, such consonant forms as drill - trill, lancet - tweezers, minced meat - farce, escalator - excavator, turn - stained glass window, etc. should also be recognized as paronyms. However, their convergence in speech is random and is not fixed by the whole variety of systemic relationships in language. In addition, the comparison of consonant words with different roots is often subjective (to one the words virazh - stained glass seem similar, to another - virazh - mirage)
The relationship of paronyms to homonyms, synonyms, antonyms
When studying paronyms, the question naturally arises about their relationship to other lexical categories - homonyms, synonyms and antonyms. Thus, some scientists consider paronymy as a kind of homonymy, and paronyms, therefore, as “pseudo-homonyms,” indicating their formal closeness. However, with homonymy, there is a complete coincidence in the pronunciation of words with different meanings, and paronymic forms have some differences not only in pronunciation, but also in spelling. In addition, the semantic proximity of paronyms is explained etymologically: initially they had a common root. And the similarity of homonym words is purely external, accidental (except for those cases when homonymy develops as a result of the collapse of the meanings of a polysemantic word).
Paronyms must also be distinguished from synonyms, although sometimes this can be difficult to do. When distinguishing between these phenomena, it should be borne in mind that the discrepancy in the meanings of paronyms is usually so significant that replacing one of them with another is impossible. Mixing paronyms leads to gross lexical errors: “The mother put (should put) a coat on the child”; “There were business travelers sitting in the hotel lobby” (must be business travelers). Synonyms are very often interchangeable. With all the originality of semantic structures, they provide the author with the right to a wide choice of the most appropriate word in meaning, not excluding options for synonymous replacement. At the same time, there are known cases of paronyms turning into synonyms. Thus, relatively recently, the word humble had the meaning of “becoming meek, submissive, humble”; using it to mean “reconcile” was considered unacceptable. However, in colloquial speech this word has increasingly begun to mean “having become accustomed to, coming to terms with something”: coming to terms with poverty, coming to terms with shortcomings. Modern explanatory dictionaries of the Russian language mark this meaning as the main one. Thus, former paronyms, as a result of their mixing in speech, can become closer and ultimately turn into synonyms. However, it should be kept in mind that the interchangeability of recent paronyms is permissible only if the new meaning that they have developed is fixed in the language.
The semantic difference between paronyms does not, as a rule, extend to the extreme opposite, i.e. paronyms do not enter into antonymic relationships. They can be contrasted only in the context: “Duty, not position”; “Service, not service” (newspaper article headlines). However, such a contrast between paronyms is not reflected in their systemic connections in the vocabulary and is of an occasional nature.
Using paronyms in speech
Paronyms require special attention, since mixing them in speech is unacceptable. For example, you can often encounter the incorrect use of paronyms signature - signature: “Put your signature”; “Is this your signature on the certificate?” [painting means “painting on walls, ceilings, household items, etc.” or “action on the verb to write down” (meaning “to write down in different places”: write down examples on cards)]. These meanings are enshrined in explanatory dictionaries of the Russian language. The meaning of the word signature is also explained here: 1. “The action of the verb to sign (meaning “to confirm, certify, sign”) 2. “An inscription under something” (signature under a picture) 3. “A surname written in one’s own hand” (to put your signature)
The correct use of paronyms is a necessary condition for competent, cultural speech, and, on the contrary, mixing them is a sign of low speech culture.
Artists of words teach us how to handle paronyms carefully. One can give many examples of their successful use: And having taken off the previous wreath, they put a crown of thorns, entwined with laurels, on it. (L.), On the side, closer to the cattle yards, a small pond was dug, which served as a cattle watering hole. (S.-Sch.)
In the text, paronyms are sometimes juxtaposed in order to draw attention to their semantic difference: A writer who knows the language of his people will not confuse a wasteland and a wasteland: the wasteland is plowed up, and the wasteland is built up (A. Yugov) Paronyms are also used to highlight the corresponding concepts: The young Turgenevs personify honor and honesty (M. Maric); From the door of the barn... came out a hunched old woman, bent by what she had lived and experienced (Shol.). Paronyms are often compared in the text: I would be glad to serve, but being served is sickening (Gr.); Their opposition is also possible: I thirsted for deeds, not deeds. But where is true success, success and not prosperity? (Eut.).
In artistic speech, completely special individual authorial formations can also be encountered. They are built on the basis of paronymic connections with any words of the literary language. Such occasional “paronyms” replace their correlates in stable phrases, thereby creating a pun: monument to the first printer (cf. first printer), ripping off works (cf. collection), worm of conceit (cf. doubts), bodies of bygone days (cf. deeds) The comic effect from the convergence of such consonant words is achieved thanks to a completely unexpected play on words in familiar and stable expressions, which acquire new imagery and expressiveness.
Self-test questions
- What phenomenon is called paronymy?
- How do paronyms differ from homonyms?
- What is the difference between paronyms and synonyms?
- Under what conditions can paronyms become synonyms?
- What explains the errors in the use of paronyms?
Exercises
21. Instead of dots, use one of the paronyms given in brackets.
1. At the ticket office they presented their... (travel - business trip) certificates. 2. It seems to me that I remember... (face - personality) of this person. 3. The furniture had... (dressed - put on) covers. 4. The young actress plays... (the main – title) role in the play “Anna Karenina”. 5. Straining our last (strength - effort), we reached the top of the mountain. 6. The exhibition presents a large selection of beautiful and... (practical - practical) shoes. 7. A group of schoolchildren... (came - went) to the museum for a lecture. 8. We all... tomorrow (come - go) to the stadium to watch the game of our favorite team. 9. In the port, the ship... (became - stood up) at anchor. 10. Before the feat of the defenders of the fatherland, we... (bow - bow) our heads. 11. He listened carefully to the lecture, making... (notes - notes) in a notebook. 12. We haven’t seen each other for so long that at first I didn’t... (recognized - recognized).
22. Make up sentences or phrases with paronyms. For help, please refer to dictionaries of Russian language difficulties.
Kind - kind, friendly - friendly, defective - defective, design - constructive, spectacular - effective, fornicate - wander, reflect - display, conduct - produce, present - provide, try - approbate, conceal - hide, condemn - discuss; innovation - novelty, harvest - productivity, creature - essence.
23. Indicate speech errors that arose as a result of mixing paronyms. Eliminate them by choosing your words wisely.
1. The changes that have taken place in the country over the past 5–6 years are irreversible. 2. Medical institutions provide differential nutrition to patients. 3. Children take their parents' grief to heart. 4. He was a true supporter of the book, the fruits of his educational activities are visible to this day. 5. More than a hundred people moved into the dormitory, which the students themselves had just rebuilt. 6. Following the cherries, early varieties of apples arrived. 7. At first, scientific work was not easy. 8. Due to unfavorable weather conditions and the resulting damage, the yield this year has decreased significantly. 9. The third grade of apples covers all products that cannot be transported over long distances. 10. The workshop foreman said that the shoes of his plant are in great demand among buyers. 11. The first issue of the magazine was greeted with great interest by readers. 12. Airplanes have significantly shortened the route from Kamchatka to Yakutsk 13. Approving the documentation, the director of the state farm puts his signature on it. 14. The frosted glass of the windows barely dissipates the dim light of the March morning. 15. The walls are unsightly, they are not painted, and there are nails instead of hangers. 16. The work is the same living space, so overcrowding it is very dangerous. 17. The writer’s pen is driven not by the desire for external efficiency, but by the desire to more deeply comprehend the essence of what is happening. 18. Solving this problem required excursions into mathematics and biology.
21. Instead of periods, use one of the paronyms given in brackets.
1. At the ticket office they presented their... ( business travelers - business travelers) certificates. 2. It seems to me that I remember... ( face - personality) this man. 3. The furniture was... ( dressed - put on) covers. 4. The young actress plays... ( home - capital) role in the play "Anna Karenina". 5. Straining the last ( strength - effort), we reached the top of the mountain. 6. The exhibition presents a large selection of beautiful and... ( practical - practical) shoes. 7. A group of schoolchildren... ( came - went) to the museum for a lecture. 8. We all... tomorrow ( let's come - let's go out) to the stadium to watch your favorite team play. 9. There is a ship in the port... ( became - rose) to anchor. 10. Before the feat of the defenders of the fatherland, we... ( we bow - we bow) head. 11. He listened carefully to the lecture, doing... ( litters - notes) in notepad. 12. We haven’t seen each other for so long that at first I didn’t... ( found out - admitted).
22. Make up sentences or phrases with paronyms. For help, please refer to dictionaries of Russian language difficulties.
Kind - solid, friendly - friendly, defective - defective, design - constructive, spectacular - effective, fornicate - wander, reflect - display, conduct - produce, present - provide, try - approbate, cover - hide, condemn - discuss; innovation - novelty, harvest - productivity, creature - essence.
23. Indicate speech errors that arose as a result of mixing paronyms. Eliminate them by choosing your words wisely.
1. The changes that have taken place in the country over the past 5-6 years are irreversible. 2. Medical institutions provide differential nutrition to patients. 3. Children take their parents' grief to heart. 4. He was a true supporter of the book, the fruits of his educational activities are visible to this day. 5. More than a hundred people moved into the dormitory, which the students themselves had just rebuilt. 6. Following the cherries, early varieties of apples arrived. 7. At first, scientific work was not easy. 8. Due to unfavorable weather conditions and the resulting damage, the yield this year has decreased significantly. 9. The third grade of apples covers all products that cannot be transported over long distances. 10. The workshop foreman said that the shoes of his plant are in great demand among buyers. 11. The first issue of the magazine was greeted with great interest by readers. 12. Airplanes have significantly shortened the route from Kamchatka to Yakutsk 13. Approving the documentation, the director of the state farm puts his signature on it. 14. The frosted glass of the windows barely dissipates the dim light of the March morning. 15. The walls are unsightly, they are not painted, and there are nails instead of hangers. 16. The work is the same living space, so overcrowding it is very dangerous. 17. The writer’s pen is driven not by the desire for external efficiency, but by the desire to more deeply comprehend the essence of what is happening. 18. Solving this problem required excursions into mathematics and biology.
Determine whether each pair of words represents homonyms, paronyms, synonyms, or antonyms. Distribute the word pairs in Table 3.
Soft - hard, launch (rocket) - launch (study), skillful - artificial, skillful - skillful, (strong) marriage - marriage (in work), doctor - doctor, learn - master, hot - hot, hard work - laziness, edge (cliff) - edge (region), ignoramus - ignoramus, adult - child, clay - clayey, defect - lack, joy - sadness, stormy - cloudy, forge (musical instrument) - forge (in a forge).
Table 3
Types of system relations in vocabulary
Note.
The exercise can be performed by several students at the board in the form of a distributed dictation. The rest of the students do the exercise in their notebooks and check the work at the board, making corrections if necessary.
To understand systemic relationships in vocabulary, you need to know not only what they are, but also how they work in the text.
3. Questions and assignments on the topic “Homonyms”.
What types of homonyms do you know? Define each of them.
Determine on the basis of what types of homonyms each of the texts below is created.
A) There are many different keys:
The key is a spring between the stones,
Treble clef, curled,
And a regular door key. (Full homonyms.)
B) The bear carried it, walking towards the market,
For sale honey krinka.
Suddenly the bear is attacked! –
The wasps decided to attack.
Teddy bear with an army of aspen
He fought with a torn aspen.
Could he not fly into rage?
If the wasps climbed into the mouth.
They stung anywhere,
They got it for this.
(“Krynku” and “krinku” are homophones, “misfortune” and “misfortune” are homoforms, “aspen” and “aspen” are homoforms, “fall” and “into the mouth” are homophones, “got” and “got” - homoforms.)
Do exercise 10 (p. 16).
What dictionaries should you turn to if you don’t know the exact meaning of homonym words? (To dictionaries of homonyms or explanatory dictionaries.)
4. Questions and assignments on the topic “Paronyms”.
What words usually enter into paronymic relationships? (Cognate words belonging to the same part of speech.)
What do you need to know to avoid mistakes in using paronyms? (Lexical meaning of paronymous words, their semantic difference.)
What dictionaries should you turn to if you find it difficult to choose the right word? (To dictionaries of paronyms or explanatory dictionaries.)
Explain the difference in the lexical meaning of paronyms. To do this, you can create phrases with paronyms, select synonyms or antonyms for them. For example: weekday - an ordinary, weekday, antonym to the word “day off”. Everyday - everyday clothes.
Compassionate - pitiful. Responsible - responsible. Tactical - tactical. Factual - factual. Educational - educational. Long - long lasting. Spare - thrifty. Angry - malicious. Intolerable - intolerant. Master - master. Misprint - unsubscribe.
5. Questions and assignments on the topic “Synonyms”.
What types of synonyms do you know? Define each of them. (Ideographic and stylistic.)
Do exercise 19 (p. 19).
With the help of the Explanatory Dictionary of the Russian Language S.I. Ozhegova, determine the difference between words of a synonymous series, determine whether each synonym has an antonym.
Hot - burning - sultry - scorching - red-hot.
News - notification - news - news - message.
Appearance - appearance - appearance - appearance - portrait.
Disaster - misfortune - misfortune - catastrophe - misadventure.
Epoch - period - time - century - time.
Old - ancient - dilapidated - decrepit - ancient.
Chains - shackles - bonds - shackles - chains.
Durable - solid - strong - durable - indestructible.
Bold - fearless - brave - courageous - valiant.
Teach - study - study - repeat - cram.
Smart - understanding - intelligent - quick-witted - smart.
Note. This activity can be done in pairs or small groups, depending on the number of people in the class. The test can be either the oral presentation of each pair (group), or working on the ability to correctly use a synonym in the text (for example, writing a mini-essay on a group of synonyms on given topic).
6. Questions and assignments on the topic “Antonyms”.
Can words with the same root be antonyms? (Yes. For example, folk is anti-national.)
By what means do words with the same root acquire opposite meanings? (Using prefixes with a negative meaning, for example honest - dishonest, attack - counterattack.)
How are antonyms used when creating text? (They are used to create an antithesis, that is, a sharp opposition of objects and phenomena.)
Complete exercises 23, 25, 27.
III. Lesson summary
So, what types of systemic relations in vocabulary do you know? (Homonymous, paronymic, synonymous and antonymous.)
What functions do synonyms, antonyms, homonyms and paronyms perform? (Used by wordsmiths when creating texts.)
Homonyms can serve as the basis for puns, paronyms help express shades of meaning, synonyms diversify speech and make it more expressive, with the help of paronyms sharp contrasts are created between the objects and phenomena being described.
Homework (can be differentiated)
1. § 8-10 (p. 22-29).
2. Exercise 1 . Edit sentences: find cases of incorrect use of paronyms and correct errors.
The changes that have taken place in the country over the past few years are irreversible.
Children take their parents' grief to heart.
Following the cherries, early varieties of apples arrived.
The first issue of the new magazine was greeted with great interest by readers.
Airplanes have significantly shortened the route from Kamchatka to Yakutsk.
A signature must be placed under the text of the application.
The frosted glass of the windows barely dissipates the dim light of the March morning.
The writer’s pen is driven not by the desire for external efficiency, but by the desire to more deeply comprehend the essence of what is happening.
Solving this problem required excursions into mathematics and biology.
3. Exercise 2. Choose one synonym and one antonym for each word. Mark the same root antonyms.
Joy, live, handsome, dexterity, understandable, neat, serious, smart, young.
