Abstract. Meaning in language is considered a topic of high interest and debate for scholars of linguistics. This paper investigates three fundamental approaches, including referential, functional, and operational, to meaning with a focus on a semantic triangle, contextual distribution, and communicative functions. These approaches are scrutinized in terms of theory, methodological basis, and limitations. The paper discusses the interrelationship of these perspectives and their practical application in English language teaching and is structured as a theoretical review that synthesizes traditional and modern viewpoints on semasiology rather than providing fresh empirical data. There is also an account of recent advancements in digital communication in the review that emphasizes how pragmatic cues and multimodal signals transform meaning in online environments.
Publication Date: 2026-06-10