Converse (semantics)

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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 complimentary 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

References

  1. ↑ "converse". The SIL French/English Glossary of Linguistic Terms. Retrieved 4-7-2013. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 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. 
  3. ↑ "Synonyms, Antonyms,　and Homonyms". Archived from the original on 10 May 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2013. 
  4. ↑ "Antonyms". Annies-annex.com. Retrieved 2013-06-27. 
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