Synonymity

Abstract

Our preliminary discussion in this part of the present work would be quite incomplete without a somewhat detailed consideration of sameness of meaning or synonymity of verbal expressions. This is particularly true in relation to our analysis and evaluation, in the next chapter, of what I shall refer to as Form I of semantic analysis. For as we shall there see, any form of words that purports to express a correct analysis of a given analysandum must be, in that form of analysis, synonymous with the verbal expression expressing that analysandum. An inquiry into the conditions and criteria of synonymity of expressions is also useful in relation to our entire discussion of semantic analysis in Part Two. It also ties in with the preceding two chapters, and throws further light on the nature of ordinary languages.