Homonyms, Homophones and Homographs
Introduction
I write this article in response to a lesson that I taught my pupils on homonyms. I happened to mention that there are other homo-s and mentioned a homophone. They got all confused, and so I started an impromptu lesson on something I picked up during Linguistics lessons in teacher's college.
Homonyms
Homonyms are words that sound alike but have different meanings. Words like fair (to be equal) and fair (a fun event you go to) are homonyms. They sound the same but their spelling may or may not be different, and their meanings are definitely different. Other homonyms include bear (the animal) and bear (to put up with something).
Homophones
Homophones are a subset of homonyms. Since they're a subset, they're also homonyms as well. Homophones sound alike but have different spelling and meanings. So both meanings of fair quoted for homonyms cannot fall under homophones. Words like pair(double) and pare (peel) are homophones. Other homophones include wear and ware.
Homographs
Homographs are words that are spelt the same, but the pronunciation may or may not be the same, and the meanings are definitely different. Words like lay (past tense of lying down) and lay (to put down an egg - that's the present tense, by the way) are homographs. Other homographs include rest (to take a break) and rest (everyone else).
Heteronyms
And of course there's this final definitive word that I must point out. It's not in the title because it's not a homo-thingy (it looks out of place in the title!). Heteronyms are a subset of homographs - they are words that are spelt the same, but which both the pronunciation and meanings are different. Since they're a subset, they're also homographs as well. So tear (what comes out of your eye when you cry) and tear (to rip apart) are heteronyms. Other heteronyms include wind (the stuff that blows through your hair) and wind (what you do to your watch).
Conclusion
OK, so now you know all these definitions - why do we need to know all these? Understanding these various forms of wordplay are important in composing and appreciating poetry, puns and jokes. A child with such an understanding would be on his way towards stronger literacy and mastery of the English language.
Happy teaching, teachers!
This article was first published on Ezinearticles.
I write this article in response to a lesson that I taught my pupils on homonyms. I happened to mention that there are other homo-s and mentioned a homophone. They got all confused, and so I started an impromptu lesson on something I picked up during Linguistics lessons in teacher's college.
Homonyms
Homonyms are words that sound alike but have different meanings. Words like fair (to be equal) and fair (a fun event you go to) are homonyms. They sound the same but their spelling may or may not be different, and their meanings are definitely different. Other homonyms include bear (the animal) and bear (to put up with something).
Homophones
Homophones are a subset of homonyms. Since they're a subset, they're also homonyms as well. Homophones sound alike but have different spelling and meanings. So both meanings of fair quoted for homonyms cannot fall under homophones. Words like pair(double) and pare (peel) are homophones. Other homophones include wear and ware.
Homographs
Homographs are words that are spelt the same, but the pronunciation may or may not be the same, and the meanings are definitely different. Words like lay (past tense of lying down) and lay (to put down an egg - that's the present tense, by the way) are homographs. Other homographs include rest (to take a break) and rest (everyone else).
Heteronyms
And of course there's this final definitive word that I must point out. It's not in the title because it's not a homo-thingy (it looks out of place in the title!). Heteronyms are a subset of homographs - they are words that are spelt the same, but which both the pronunciation and meanings are different. Since they're a subset, they're also homographs as well. So tear (what comes out of your eye when you cry) and tear (to rip apart) are heteronyms. Other heteronyms include wind (the stuff that blows through your hair) and wind (what you do to your watch).
Conclusion
OK, so now you know all these definitions - why do we need to know all these? Understanding these various forms of wordplay are important in composing and appreciating poetry, puns and jokes. A child with such an understanding would be on his way towards stronger literacy and mastery of the English language.
Happy teaching, teachers!
This article was first published on Ezinearticles.
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