Onomasiology

Designation theory or onomasiology is a branch of linguistics that deals specifically with the analysis and description of the meaning of linguistic signs.

Onomasiology starts from terms (concepts and facts) in a certain area of ​​reality and looks for the corresponding designations. By setting up word fields, designations are systematized and gradual changes in meaning are shown.

Different linguistic expressions can therefore be assigned to a specific content. For example, the term 'head' may be referred to as 'root', 'roof', 'pear', 'skull', 'head', 'head' (common name), etc.

As a result of the onomasiological question, one obtains a series of synonyms or partial synonyms, i.e. expressions with the same meaning or at least with a similar meaning, which refer to the same content.

Not in all, but in many cases, onomasiology is understood more historically, that is, as a theory of the change in designation.