Semantic Concepts

Semantics features - meaning of a word

Reference/referent - the concept that a word refers to (also meaning)

Lexical relation - the relationship of the term with other words

We use words to communicate ideas and concepts; without them, communication would be severely limited. The meaning of words, however, do not remain stagnant. The usage of words and their meanings constantly change alongside the development of society and culture. Analyzing word utilizing semantic concepts can help us understand how a word and its usage changed over time, and how its relation to society has deviated from its original function.

The speed at which the world is currently developing is frighteningly fast. Words that have once been considered a taboo to specific

the police shootings as seen in the news), words play a big role. There are many derogatory terms that are used to express such discrimination. However, with the turn of the century, some terms are gaining new meanings. nigga, is such a term. The word nigga, is a synonym and a homophone of nigger, which is derived from the Portugese term Negro, which meant the color black.

The word nigga has been used as a term of affection/endearment, similar to buddy, dude, homie within the recent decades, but only mostly between two individuals that are of the same ethnicity (usually African-American). There has been conflict over whether the word should be used to denote such meanings, with some people supporting its usage, and others crying out against it.

Lexical relations of the word nigga, is mostly with its original derived-from word nigger. Nigger has an offensive, insulting meaning and was commonly used throughout the US until the black civil rights movement. It is a synonym (arguably with the same meaning during the early stages of common use) of nigger. It is also a homophone of nigger, sharing a closely similar pronunciation(or the same). This is usually the case for words derived another. Words in such situations, share close, if not similar

This, however, is not agreed on by all African-Africans as many still think that nigga is a strong reminder the oppressed past they had to face. The usage depends on the in-groups of a community and how they view the word. Even so, friendly usage of nigga will almost, most certainly remain only in in-groups or within the African-American community.

The conceptual meaning, or the meaning of the word as it was intended to be, is used to describe a person with darker toned skin and of African origin/ roots, with a strong derogatory direction. The meaning of nigga(nigger) resonates so strongly with the world that people rarely use it as an attempt to avoid being racist. Culturally, it could mean the same (as an insult/rude word) or as a substitute term for friend or buddy. This meaning would most likely be limited within a community (African-American), with a shared culture, viewpoint, and more importantly, a common