Which of the following is NOT listed as an area of meaning in a notional syllabus?

• A. Frequency
• B. Location
• C. Duration
• D. Tone

Answer: (D)

In a notional syllabus, meaning is organized around concrete semantic notions that learners can use in everyday communication. The areas typically include how often something happens (frequency), where something occurs (location), and how long it lasts (duration). These are practical dimensions of meaning that map directly to everyday speech and discourse. Tone, while it affects how something is perceived, isn’t treated as a separate area of meaning in this framework; it’s more about attitude or style and how voice or emphasis can color message rather than a distinct semantic category learners study as meaning itself. So tone is not listed as one of the areas of meaning in a notional syllabus.