"resemantizarse" ?

Question

Hello everyone!

I am reading an article on the Uruguayan poet Delmira Agustini and came across a word that I have never heard or seen before. I typed it into the SpanishDict toolbar but its dictionary does not have the word nor do any of the three Spanish-English dictionaries I have looked in.

The word is "se resemantiza" (which in the verb's infinitive form would be "resemantizarse" I'm assuming) and the sentence reads:

"La obra de estas artistas...reclama un espacio propio donde se resemantiza, por medio de un nuevo enunciación, el imaginario erótico femenino" (Lanieri 421-422).

Anyone have any idea what resemantizarse means and/or has anyone heard or seen this word before?

As always, thank you very much in advance for any and all help! It is incredibly appreciated.

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Link to the above cited article in case anyone is interested or wants to look at the sentence for themself: http://cvc.cervantes.es/literatura/aispi/pdf/15/15_421.pdf

When you quoted the article, you miswrote the word. You meant to write "se resemantiza" - missy8888, Apr 2, 2012

This is a tricky one...I am looking forward to your answers because it isn´t even in the RAE Spanish dictionary!! - missy8888, Apr 2, 2012

Oops! I apologize for the mistyping! The word is just so foreign to me I didn't notice the typo! Thank you for the correction, missy8888! - AlyssaLTerry, Apr 2, 2012

Answer 1

Absolutely! Even though the words semantizar and resemantizar do not "exist" in Spanish, it is clear to me that the author is trying to convey a meaning, link to the word "semántica" which is "Meaning". Now, by adding the prefix "re" which mean to do something again, the authors are saying that "they want to give a new meaning or to give back the old meaning" Other examples with similar words would be:

• Restablecer = To re establish
• Reordenar = To reorganize
• Reaparecer = To reappear
• Note: Semántica = Semantics

Great explanation, Farallon7 - francobollo, Apr 2, 2012

Thanks man! - farallon7, Apr 2, 2012

Answer 2

The verb semantizar does not exist (as per RAE). Therefore, resemantizar (which is the same word with the re prefix, which means to do over) does not exit either.

However, It can be inferred by the context that what the author means by resemantizar is to give a new meaning or accent to these female artists' work by placing them in the female erotiscism realm or context.

I hope this helps!

Answer 3

semántica = semantics

So it is possible the author made a verb out of this noun. In which case, resemantizarse would be to change the meaning (semantics) of the artists work.

So I agree with francobollo's answer.

Well Farallon posted while I was writing. So I now agree with him as well.

Oh sorry! That has happen to me several times! - farallon7, Apr 2, 2012

Hey no problem. At least I got it right. That makes me happy. - gringojrf, Apr 2, 2012

Well, very often you get it right! You even look happy in your picture! .... Hey, in my picture, I am looking at the sun, so I couldn't smile! ; ] - farallon7, Apr 2, 2012