Midonymy: A Lexical Relation in Need of Two Extremes
Muhammed Barjes Salman
Tikrit University / College of Education for Humanities
DOI: https://doi.org/10.25130/jls.5.4.1.10
Keywords: midonymy, extremes, lexical relation, sense relation
Abstract
Lexical relations are important from the point of view of different fields as they are one of the tools that are used in formulating their theories and perspectives. Thus, whenever the list of lexical relations becomes more comprehensive, the theories and perspectives become more thorough. The current research is a try to add and coin a new lexical relation which is called midonymy. This lexical relation refers to a lexical item (midonym) that lies in the middle between two extremes such as the midonym warm which lies between the pair of extremes hot and cold. When one is asked about the meaning of the midonym B, the answer can be It is something between A and C. Midonyms can vary according to the nature of the midonym itself or according to its relation with the two extremes that surround it. Midonyms can be classified into: mixing, verbal, absolute-relative, transitive-intransitive and mutual-exclusive midonyms. The pair of extremes should surround each midonym and a midonym cannot be a midonym if one or both of them is/are missed, that’s why the title of this research shows that midonymy is in need of two extremes. The extremes also vary according to their nature into: antonymous extremes, sequential extremes, orientational extremes, hyponymous extremes and superiority of extremes. Concerning the terminology, the linguistic concept is midonymy, the noun that refers to the one element related to this lexical relation is midonym, and the adjective is midonymous which means something related to or a type of midonymy.
