This study investigates the complex relationship between semantic polysemy and syntactic structures in contemporary English. Semantic polysemy refers to the phenomenon in which a single word carries multiple related meanings, with interpretation shifting according to syntactic and pragmatic context. This variability reflects the flexibility of language and the cognitive mechanisms that allow speakers to adapt meaning to diverse communicative situations. By analyzing how polysemous words function across different syntactic environments, the research shows that meaning is not static but dynamically shaped by grammatical structure and contextual usage. The methodology is qualitative, focusing on detailed examination of polysemous words in literature, academic discourse, and online media. Each occurrence was analyzed to determine how syntactic variation influences interpretation. This approach provides a comprehensive view of the mechanisms through which syntax interacts with semantics to generate multiple layers of meaning. The findings reveal that structures such as subordination, repetition, and inversion play significant roles in activating specific semantic nuances, underscoring the importance of syntax in shaping interpretation. The study also adopts a comparative perspective, drawing on examples from contemporary English poetry, particularly the works of Carolyn Forché. Her innovative use of syntax illustrates how polysemy can be enriched through poetic language, inviting readers to explore multiple interpretations and enhancing the emotional and thematic depth of her texts. The analysis shows that syntactic devices such as repetition and variation are not merely stylistic ornaments but essential mechanisms for constructing meaning and guiding interpretive processes. Beyond theoretical linguistics, the implications of this research extend to applied fields. In natural language processing and artificial intelligence, a nuanced understanding of polysemy and its syntactic conditioning is crucial for improving systems that aim to approximate human communication. In language pedagogy, insights into the relationship between syntax and semantic variability can inform teaching strategies that help learners navigate complexities of meaning. The study highlights that awareness of syntactic interplay can enhance learners’ ability to interpret texts more flexibly and creatively. In conclusion, this research contributes to the broader field of linguistics by demonstrating that semantic polysemy cannot be fully understood without considering its syntactic environment. By integrating qualitative, corpus-based, and comparative approaches, the study offers valuable insights into the dynamic nature of language, its cognitive foundations, and its expressive potential. The findings emphasize that syntax is not only a structural framework but also a key factor in the construction and interpretation of meaning.
| Published in | Languages, Literatures and Cultures (Volume 2, Issue 1) |
| DOI | 10.11648/j.llc.20260201.13 |
| Page(s) | 43-50 |
| Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Semantic Polysemy, Syntactic Structures, Linguistic Flexibility, Language Comprehension, Syntactic Play, Syntax and Semantics, Cognitive Processes, Natural Language Processing
| [1] | Alkarazoun, G., & Riziq, D. (2025). A syntactic and pragmatic analysis of the colloquial expression ʔinno ‘that’ in Jordanian Arabic: Evidence from social media conversation. Languages, 10(9), Article 205. |
| [2] | Bloom, P. (2000). How Children Learn the Meanings of Words. The MIT Press. |
| [3] | Crystal, D. (2011). Language and the Internet (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press. |
| [4] | Evans, V., & Green, M. (2021). Cognitive Linguistics: An Introduction. Routledge. |
| [5] | Forche, C. (1994). The angel of history. HarperCollins. |
| [6] | Forche, C. (2020). In the lateness of the world. Penguin Press. |
| [7] | Karimova, M. (2021). Anaphora as an essential type of poetic repetition in English and Uzbek poetry. Neliti. URL: |
| [8] | Leech, G. N. (1969). A linguistic guide to English poetry. Longman. |
| [9] | Mitiс, I., Janiс Mitiс, A., & Stamenkoviс, D. (2025). Relating Metaphor Syntax to Metaphor Features: An Empirical Approach. Cogent Arts & Humanities, 12(1). |
| [10] | Monteza, A. M., & Hermansyah, S. (2025). Revisiting the syntax–semantics interface: Theoretical, empirical, and computational insights. Lingua: Journal of Linguistics and Language, 3(2), 89–100. |
| [11] | Nishiyama, Y. (2025). Construction Defining Functionality: A Constructive Perspective on Functions through Their Generated Structures. URL: |
| [12] | Nishiyama, Y. (2025). Structural Origin and the Minimal Syntax of NP-Hardness: Analysis of SAT from Syntactic Generativity and Compositional Collapse. URL: |
| [13] | Pavey, E. L. (2010). The structure of language: An introduction to grammatical analysis. Cambridge University Press. |
| [14] | Pustejovsky, J. (1995). The Generative Lexicon. MIT Press. |
| [15] | Sapir, E. (1945). Culture, Language, and Personality: Selected Essays. University of California Press. URL: |
| [16] | Schmidt, R. W. (1990). The role of consciousness in second language learning. Applied Linguistics, 11(2), 129–158. |
| [17] | Tuychiev, S. E. (2025). Some Remarks on New Approaches to the Syntactic Analysis of the Sentence. International Journal of Artificial Intelligence, 5(6), 425-428. |
APA Style
Pokhyliuk, O. (2026). Semantic Polysemy as a Result of Syntactic Play. Languages, Literatures and Cultures, 2(1), 43-50. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.llc.20260201.13
ACS Style
Pokhyliuk, O. Semantic Polysemy as a Result of Syntactic Play. Lang. Lit. Cult. 2026, 2(1), 43-50. doi: 10.11648/j.llc.20260201.13
Share This Article
Twitter
Linked In
Facebook
Copy
Download@article{10.11648/j.llc.20260201.13,
author = {Olena Pokhyliuk},
title = {Semantic Polysemy as a Result of Syntactic Play},
journal = {Languages, Literatures and Cultures},
volume = {2},
number = {1},
pages = {43-50},
doi = {10.11648/j.llc.20260201.13},
url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.llc.20260201.13},
eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.llc.20260201.13},
abstract = {This study investigates the complex relationship between semantic polysemy and syntactic structures in contemporary English. Semantic polysemy refers to the phenomenon in which a single word carries multiple related meanings, with interpretation shifting according to syntactic and pragmatic context. This variability reflects the flexibility of language and the cognitive mechanisms that allow speakers to adapt meaning to diverse communicative situations. By analyzing how polysemous words function across different syntactic environments, the research shows that meaning is not static but dynamically shaped by grammatical structure and contextual usage. The methodology is qualitative, focusing on detailed examination of polysemous words in literature, academic discourse, and online media. Each occurrence was analyzed to determine how syntactic variation influences interpretation. This approach provides a comprehensive view of the mechanisms through which syntax interacts with semantics to generate multiple layers of meaning. The findings reveal that structures such as subordination, repetition, and inversion play significant roles in activating specific semantic nuances, underscoring the importance of syntax in shaping interpretation. The study also adopts a comparative perspective, drawing on examples from contemporary English poetry, particularly the works of Carolyn Forché. Her innovative use of syntax illustrates how polysemy can be enriched through poetic language, inviting readers to explore multiple interpretations and enhancing the emotional and thematic depth of her texts. The analysis shows that syntactic devices such as repetition and variation are not merely stylistic ornaments but essential mechanisms for constructing meaning and guiding interpretive processes. Beyond theoretical linguistics, the implications of this research extend to applied fields. In natural language processing and artificial intelligence, a nuanced understanding of polysemy and its syntactic conditioning is crucial for improving systems that aim to approximate human communication. In language pedagogy, insights into the relationship between syntax and semantic variability can inform teaching strategies that help learners navigate complexities of meaning. The study highlights that awareness of syntactic interplay can enhance learners’ ability to interpret texts more flexibly and creatively. In conclusion, this research contributes to the broader field of linguistics by demonstrating that semantic polysemy cannot be fully understood without considering its syntactic environment. By integrating qualitative, corpus-based, and comparative approaches, the study offers valuable insights into the dynamic nature of language, its cognitive foundations, and its expressive potential. The findings emphasize that syntax is not only a structural framework but also a key factor in the construction and interpretation of meaning.},
year = {2026}
}
TY - JOUR T1 - Semantic Polysemy as a Result of Syntactic Play AU - Olena Pokhyliuk Y1 - 2026/01/16 PY - 2026 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.llc.20260201.13 DO - 10.11648/j.llc.20260201.13 T2 - Languages, Literatures and Cultures JF - Languages, Literatures and Cultures JO - Languages, Literatures and Cultures SP - 43 EP - 50 PB - Science Publishing Group UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.llc.20260201.13 AB - This study investigates the complex relationship between semantic polysemy and syntactic structures in contemporary English. Semantic polysemy refers to the phenomenon in which a single word carries multiple related meanings, with interpretation shifting according to syntactic and pragmatic context. This variability reflects the flexibility of language and the cognitive mechanisms that allow speakers to adapt meaning to diverse communicative situations. By analyzing how polysemous words function across different syntactic environments, the research shows that meaning is not static but dynamically shaped by grammatical structure and contextual usage. The methodology is qualitative, focusing on detailed examination of polysemous words in literature, academic discourse, and online media. Each occurrence was analyzed to determine how syntactic variation influences interpretation. This approach provides a comprehensive view of the mechanisms through which syntax interacts with semantics to generate multiple layers of meaning. The findings reveal that structures such as subordination, repetition, and inversion play significant roles in activating specific semantic nuances, underscoring the importance of syntax in shaping interpretation. The study also adopts a comparative perspective, drawing on examples from contemporary English poetry, particularly the works of Carolyn Forché. Her innovative use of syntax illustrates how polysemy can be enriched through poetic language, inviting readers to explore multiple interpretations and enhancing the emotional and thematic depth of her texts. The analysis shows that syntactic devices such as repetition and variation are not merely stylistic ornaments but essential mechanisms for constructing meaning and guiding interpretive processes. Beyond theoretical linguistics, the implications of this research extend to applied fields. In natural language processing and artificial intelligence, a nuanced understanding of polysemy and its syntactic conditioning is crucial for improving systems that aim to approximate human communication. In language pedagogy, insights into the relationship between syntax and semantic variability can inform teaching strategies that help learners navigate complexities of meaning. The study highlights that awareness of syntactic interplay can enhance learners’ ability to interpret texts more flexibly and creatively. In conclusion, this research contributes to the broader field of linguistics by demonstrating that semantic polysemy cannot be fully understood without considering its syntactic environment. By integrating qualitative, corpus-based, and comparative approaches, the study offers valuable insights into the dynamic nature of language, its cognitive foundations, and its expressive potential. The findings emphasize that syntax is not only a structural framework but also a key factor in the construction and interpretation of meaning. VL - 2 IS - 1 ER -
Department of Philology, Vinnytsia Humanities Pedagogical College, Vinnytsia, Ukraine
Information