TYPES OF MEANING IN LINGUISTIC SEMANTICS: A THEORETICAL AND FUNCTIONAL OVERVIEW

Аннотация

The study of meaning occupies a central role in linguistic theory, as language itself is fundamentally a vehicle for conveying meaning. This article presents a comprehensive overview of the different types of meaning recognized in linguistic semantics, including lexical, grammatical, conceptual, connotative, social, affective, collocative, thematic, and pragmatic meaning. Drawing from semantic theory, pragmatics, and stylistics, the paper explores how these types function both independently and interactively within discourse. Through examples from English and cross-linguistic comparison, the study illustrates the multifaceted nature of meaning in communication. This work aims to clarify distinctions between meaning categories and their relevance in applied linguistics, translation studies, and language teaching. The findings reaffirm that meaning is not a monolithic phenomenon, but a layered system shaped by context, culture, andcognitivefactors. Keywords: Meaning, semantics, lexical meaning, connotation, pragmatics, language function, linguistictheory