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Polysemy or generality? Mu

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Author

Editor

  • Hubert Cuyckens
  • René Dirven
  • John R. Taylor

Summary, in English

This chapter proposes a conception of lexical meaning as use-potential, in contrast to prevailing atomistic and reificational views. The issues are illustrated on the example of spatial expressions, pre-eminently prepositions. It is argued that the dichotomy between polysemy and semantic generality is a false one, with expressions occupying points on a continuum from full homonymy to full monosemy, and with typical cases of polysemy falling in between. The notion of use-potential is explored in connectionist models of spatial categorization. Some possible objections to the use-potential approach are also addressed.

Publishing year

2003

Language

English

Pages

447-494

Publication/Series

Cognitive Approaches to Lexical Semantics

Volume

23

Document type

Book chapter

Publisher

Mouton de Gruyter

Topic

  • General Language Studies and Linguistics

Keywords

  • connectionist modeling
  • creativity
  • epigenesis
  • hermeneutics
  • meaning-holism
  • monosemy
  • polysemy
  • semantic generality
  • situatedness
  • spatial expressions
  • use-potential

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISBN: 3-11-017709-9