Betydningene

Betydningene is the plural form of betydning, a Norwegian term for meaning. In linguistics and lexicography, betydningene refers to the different senses or semantic contents that a word or expression can have. The singular betydning denotes the core semantic content, while betydningene emphasizes multiple senses that may be listed in dictionaries or discussed in semantic analysis.

In semantics, meanings are analyzed as lexical meaning (the inherent content of a word) and contextual or pragmatic meaning (how the sense shifts or is interpreted in a given situation). Denotation or reference concerns what a term points to in the real world, while sense covers the cognitive content and potential associations a term carries. Context, usage, and culture can shape betydningene, producing metaphorical or specialized meanings beyond the primary sense.

Dictionaries present betydningene of a word as separate senses, often with examples, synonyms, antonyms, and notes on regional or diachronic variation. The concept is central to understanding polysemy (one form with several related meanings) and, in some cases, homonymy (different meanings that share a form).

In translation and language teaching, betydningene highlight how words convey different nuances across languages and contexts. Philosophically, meanings are discussed in relation to truth-conditions, reference, and the ways language connects with the world, while pragmatics examines how speaker intent and situational context influence interpretation of betydningene.