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. The relationship between such words is called a converse relation. 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. Converses are sometimes referred to as complementary antonyms because an "either/or" relationship is present between them. One exists only because the other exists.
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
- Predator and prey
- Lend and borrow
- Offense and defense
- Slave and master
See also
- Opposite (semantics)
References
- "converse". The SIL French/English Glossary of Linguistic Terms. Archived from the original on 2014-10-22. Retrieved 2013-07-04.
- 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.
- "Synonyms, Antonyms, and Homonyms". Archived from the original on 10 May 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
- "Antonyms". Annies-annex.com. Archived from the original on 18 May 2011. Retrieved 2016-12-27.
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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 The relationship between such words is called a converse relation 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 Converses are sometimes referred to as complementary antonyms because an either or relationship is present between them One exists only because the other exists List of converse wordsOwn 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 Predator and prey Lend and borrow Offense and defense Slave and masterSee alsoOpposite semantics References converse The SIL French English Glossary of Linguistic Terms Archived from the original on 2014 10 22 Retrieved 2013 07 04 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 Synonyms Antonyms and Homonyms Archived from the original on 10 May 2012 Retrieved 4 July 2013 Antonyms Annies annex com Archived from the original on 18 May 2011 Retrieved 2016 12 27 This semantics article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte
