 Re: close - pronunciation
Hmm... It's quite difficult and complicated (can be said).
I'll try to make a few statements using the linguistical expressions you've brought forward. (I am not sure whether I can use "bring forward here, really. If not, correct me, please.)
1) WEATHER and WETHER and WHETHER are homophones.
2) CAN is a homophone, a homograph and a homonym
(can - water can, can - to know, can - to be able to)
3) Can e.g. word "needle" be considered a homonym? It has only one meaning, but you can use it both as a verb and a noun. I believe these words (there are thousans of them in English, I guess) are not considered homonyms, but I am rather asking, just in case.
4) Dream (dream about sth. / of sth.) - can this be consireded two different meanings? If it can, how is the phenomenon (the relation between the words) called? Is it a polysemy?
5) CLOSE is a heteronym (/clous/, /clouz/), homonym + homograph (to close X open, close X near...)
If I did understand it well, the difference between homonyms and homographs is quite tiny. The only difference is the fact that homographs can be read (pronounced) either in the same or in a different way. Am I right?  |