Semantic field. The parameter “semantic field” is designed to classify the phraseological units and translatants in macro-subjects. In its current conception within the CREAMY project, it is rather problematic. The semantic fields identified and available in CREAMY up until this point are the following: 74 Although the names of these use values give a rather clear indication of the situations they ought to describe, the implementation of these subcategories does depend on the subjective choices of the annotator.
Semantic field. Xxxxxxx’x semantic field is extremely important to a complete discourse analysis of his recount because of the vocabulary he is careful to include. Despite having survived a horrendous experience in Hohenschönhausen, Xxxxxxx still manages to maintain a certain sense of humor in his writing, albeit a dark one. He himself recognizes this characteristic, “Ganz den Humor habe ich trotz der unsagbar schweren Stunden im ‘U-Boot’ nicht verloren. Aufgegeben habe ich mich nie, und auch lachen mußte man manchmal, und das war gut” (p. 161). This acknowledgement for a need to laugh comes directly before a story in which Xxxxxxx describes Xxxxxxx getting caught in an awkward situation. Prisoners were only given two pieces of toilet paper per day and were allowed no privacy from their cell mates when they needed to go to the bathroom. One day Xxxxxxx uses the bucket left in the room for prisoners, but accidentally gets some of his own feces stuck to the edge of the bucket. In order to clean up his mess, Xxxxxxx tears a small piece of his toilet paper and carefully tries to wipe the bucket clean without Xxxxxxx noticing. Xxxxxxx writes: “Man muß sich das Bild vorstellen; Xxxxxxx mit heruntergelassenen Hosen und nacktem Hintern und fummelt und fummelt mit der Nase vor diesem Stück ‘Stuhlgang’ xxxxx. Nun, es war ein Bild für Xxxxxx, ein Bild für Zille zum Xxxxx. Ja, auch solche Situationen kamen vor und konnte man nicht vergessen” (p. 161). Instead of letting this demeaning situation get to him, Xxxxxxx makes a joke out of it, describing it as if it were some practical joke between friends. Xxxxxxx’x sense of humor is further reflected in his semantic field in his use of sarcasm. When describing his cell he writes, “Da es keinen Tisch in der Kellerzelle gab, sondern eine drei Meter breite Holzpritsche mit den Matratzen am Kopfende geschichtet, die zur ‘Nachtruhe’ ausgebreitet werden durften” (p. 156). Instead of simply writing that the wooden cot is used to sleep, Xxxxxxx uses the word Nachtruhe in quotation marks to emphasize how little sleep was actually done there. The cot was most likely so uncomfortable that sleep was nearly impossible. Another example of the sarcastic use of quotation marks occurs in a conversation Xxxxxxx has with Xxxxxxx. Xxxxxxx relates Gerhard’s situation, “Xx xxx schon drei Monate, hatte also schon, ‘Erfahrung’ in diesem Affenkasten, kannte den Ablauf dieses ‘Hotels’ genau” (p. 155). Although Xxxxxxx is most likely repeating what Xxxxxxx told hi...
Semantic field. Just as Xxxxxxx’x choice of themes and personal possessive pronouns is meaningful so is her choice of semantic field. Although not every word of her recount is necessarily loaded with further meaning many of her word choices are significant to a study of the Stasi and the GDR from the perspective of a political prisoner. Especially significant to this study is Xxxxxxx’x repeated use of the word “Xxxxxx”. For example she writes, “Der Xxxxxx an Schönheit hier—Musik, ein angenehmer Xxxx, etwas Hübsches zum Anschauen—war manchmal schwerer zu ertragen als Einsamkeit, Xxxxxx an Liebe, un der Verlust der Freiheit. In dieser Hinsicht war Nummer 61 besonders arm” (p. 137). For Xxxxxxx the lack of beauty is often harder to bear than her yearning for freedom. She goes on to describe a further lacking in her position as prisoner, “Mein Xxxxx schärfte sich merklich, und mein Körper war, in Anbetracht des Xxxxxxx an Xxxx und Bewegung, recht gut in Ordnung” (p. 142). Even though Xxxxxxx was stuck in a tiny stuffy cell she made an effort to exercise every day, doing her best to keep her body healthy. Essentially, despite the lack of everything positive in Xxxxxxx’x life she was able to survive the challenges of Hohenschönhausen. Besides Xxxxxxx’x repeated use of “Xxxxxx”, her semantic field also generally includes a focus on culture. In order for Xxxxxxx to keep her mind off of the bleakness of her situation in the hands of the Stasi, away from her husband and children, Xxxxxxx tries to recall music, literature, and languages. She recalls symphonies from Beethoven and attempts to memorize the names of the 00 xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx. She writes, “Es gelang mir, die acht Strophen von Goethes “Erlkönig” zusammenzustückeln, den ich zwar oft gehört, aber nie auswendig gelernt hatte” (p. 134). These distractions of beautiful music and poetry stand in xxxxx contrast to the thick gray walls of the prison. By allowing herself to focus on the beauty within her mind Xxxxxxx is able to escape Hohenschönhausen if only mentally.
