1. Types of Antonyms 反义词的种类

Antonymy deals with semantic opposition. 反义关系研究的是语义上的对立。

What are antonyms? Antonyms can be defined as words which are opposite in meaning. 反义词可被定义为意义上对立的词。

Antonyms can be divided into three types:

1) Complementaries 互补反义词

Complementaries are forms of antonyms which truly represent oppositeness of meaning. 互补反义词是真正反映意义对立的反义词形式。

Examples in the textbook:

Adj.:    dead — alive,    present — absent,        male — female,      true — false,       

same — different,   perfect — imperfect,        single — married

Noun: boy — girl, man — woman

Features of complementaries 互补反义词的特点

(1) They are so opposed to each other that they are mutually exclusive and admit no possibility between them. The assertion of one is the denial of the other or vice versa. 它们互相完全对立，互相排斥，之间不允许有任何可能项。肯定一方就等于否定另一方，反之也一样。

(2) Another distinctive feature of this category is that such antonyms are nongradable. 这类反义词的另一个显著特征是这种反义词是非等级的。

2) Contraries 相对反义词

Contraries are best envisaged in terms of a scale running between two poles or extremes. 相对反义词最好被想像为处于两极之间的一个标尺。

Words such as rich--poor, old--young, big--small represent two points at both ends of the pole. The existence of one is in relation to the other. ..….This shows what is called semantic relativity. 像富—穷、老—少、大—小这样的词表示了一根杆子的两端。一方的存在与另一方有关。…… 这就是所谓的语义相对性。

Examples:

(1) poor —— rich, good —— bad,   cold —— hot,   old —— young

(2) rich, very rich, richer, richest

Antonyms of this kind are characteristic of semantic polarity. These antonyms form part of a scale of values between two poles and can accommodate a middle ground belonging neither to one pole nor to the other. 这种反义词的特点是语义二极性。这些反义词形成了处于两极之间的一支等值尺，并可以提供不属于两端的中间地带。

3) Converses 逆反反义词

Converses consist of relational opposites such as parent—child, husband—wife, predecessor—successor, employer—employee. The pairs of words indicate such a reciprocal social relationship that one of them cannot be used without suggesting the other. 逆反反义词包含了像父母—孩子、丈夫—妻子、前任—后任、雇主—雇员这样的关系对立词。这些成对的词表明了一种相互的社会关系，即使用一个词必然会提起另一个。   

Reverse terms 反向词

Reverse terms comprise adjectives and adverbs signifying a quality and verbs and nouns signifying an act or state that reverse or undo the quality, action or state of the other. 反向词包括表示性质的形容词和副词和表示行为或状态的动词和名词，这些性质、行为和状态与另一个词的性质、行为和状态相反。

2. Some of the Characteristics of Antonyms 反义词的一些特点

Words denoting nature, quality or state of things have in many cases antonyms. This accounts for abundance of antonyms among adjectives. Next come verbs which denote action or activity. Least antonyms are found among nouns which generally denote names of objects, domain, idea, etc. 表示性质、品质和状态的词在许多情况下具有反义词。这说明了形容词中反义词多的原因。下一类是表示行动和行为的动词。一般表示物体名称、领域名称和思想名称的名词中反义词最少。

Many words, though having synonyms, do not find their semantic opposites. 许多词虽然有同义词，但却没有语义上的对立词（即反义词）。

Words which are polysemantic can have more than one antonym. 多义的词会有多个反义词。

Antonyms differ in semantic inclusion. Pairs of antonyms are seen as unmarked and marked terms respectively, on the grounds that one member is more specific than the other and the meaning of the marked term is found in that of the unmarked. 反义词在语义包孕方面有所不同。成对反义词的两方分别被看作无标记项和有标记项，其根据是一方比另一方更加具体，无标记项的意义存在于有标记项的意义之中。

The markedness is also applied to adjectives such as tall--short, old-young where the second term is more restricted in distribution than the first. 有标记性也适用于形容词，像高—矮、老—少等，其中第二个词在语义分布上比第一个词更有限。

Contraries are gradable antonyms, differing in degree of intensity, so each has its own corresponding opposite. 相对反义词是等级反义词，在强度上有所不同，因此每一个都有其相应的对立词。

3. The Use of Antonyms 反义词的使用

Antonym have various practical uses and have long proved helpful and valuable in defining the meanings of a given word.反义词有各种实际用途，在解释词义方面早就被证明很有用处、很有价值。

Antonyms are useful in enabling us to express economically the opposite of a particular thought, often for the sake of contrast. 反义词能使我们简洁地表达一特定思想的反面，常常是为了形成对比。

Antonyms are often used to form antithesis to achieve emphasis by putting contrasting ideas together. 反义词常用来构成对偶句，以便将对立的思想放在一起取得强调的效果。

Many great writers are fond of using antonyms to serve their stylistic purpose. 许多大作家喜欢利用反义词以达到其风格上的目标。