Converse (semantics)
In linguistics, converses or relational antonyms are pairs of words that refer to a relationship from opposite points of view, such as parent/child or borrow/lend.[1][2] The relationship between such words is called a converse relation.[2] Converses can be understood as a pair of words where one word implies a relationship between two objects, while the other implies the existence of the same relationship when the objects are reversed. [3] Converses are sometimes referred to as complementary antonyms because an "either/or" relationship is present between them. One exists only because the other exists.[4]
List of converse words
- Own and belong are relational opposites i.e. "A owns B" is the same as "B belongs to A."
- Win and lose i.e. if someone wins, someone must lose.
- Fraction and whole i.e. if there is a fraction, there must be a whole.
- Above and below
- Employer and employee
- Parent and child
- Teacher and student
- Buy and sell
- East and west
- Husband and wife
- Predator and prey
- Lend and borrow
- Offense and defense
- Slave and master
See also
References
- β "converse". The SIL French/English Glossary of Linguistic Terms. Retrieved 2013-07-04.
- 1 2 Plag, Ingo; Braun, Maria; Lappe, Sabine; Schramm, Mareile (2009). Introduction to English Linguistics. Walter de Gruyter. ISBN 978-3-11-021550-2. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
- β "Synonyms, Antonyms,γand Homonyms". Archived from the original on 10 May 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
- β "Antonyms". Annies-annex.com. Retrieved 2013-06-27.
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