An analysis of antonyms in busines English terminology

Abstract

Antonyms are words that have opposite meanings. Knowing how to use antonyms can expand learners’ vocabulary and improve their English skills. However, exploring antonyms can be a handy and unique approach. This study is an attempt to investigate antonymy in business English terminology. With 129 pairs of English antonyms collected from business books and materials, the focus of the study is on the formation, characteristics and classification of antonyms. It is expected that the findings of the study will help learners gain useful insight into the formation, characteristics and classification of antonyms, therefore they can convey information more accurately and effectively.