Lexical Semantics
Chpt. 1: “A contextual approach to lexical semantics”
14/2-2002
Group B1
A contextual approach to lexical semantics
The semantic properties of a lexical item are reflected in appropriate aspects of the
relations it has with actual and potential contexts.
Meaning and grammar
Grammatical deviance:
 A deviance which is purely grammatical in nature
 Grammar: has to do with the rules by which words change their forms and are
combined into sentences
Semantic deviance:
 A deviance which is purely semantic in nature
 Semantics: the study of the meaning of words and other parts of language
Lexical Semantics
Chpt. 1: “A contextual approach to lexical semantics”
14/2-2002
Group B1
How to distinguish between grammatical and semantic deviance:
 The criterion of “corrigibility” (syntactic deviances can be readily corrected
whereas semantic deviances cannot)
 “Test 1” (replacement test)
o If the minimal change required to normalise a sentence involves one or
more closed set items, then the deviance is grammatical.
o If a sentence can most easily be normalised by replacing one or more
open set items, then the deviance is semantic.
o If the anomaly of a sentence can be removed either by changing one or
more closed set items or by replacing one or more open set items, then
the deviance is semantic (but with grammatical implications) if the open
set replacements are distinguished by the possession of certain semantic
properties, otherwise it is purely grammatical.
 “Test 2” (contextualisation test)
o Semantic deviance if we can reduce the oddness by contextual
manipulation
o Grammatical deviance if we cannot reduce the oddness by contextual
manipulation.
Lexical Semantics
Chpt. 1: “A contextual approach to lexical semantics”
14/2-2002
Group B1
The data of semantics
Two principal sources of data:
 The productive output, spoken or written, of native users of the language
 The intuitive semantic judgements by native speakers of linguistic materials of
one kind or another
Linguistic intuition:
Intuitive judgements by native speakers as to whether e.g. a sentence is
grammatically correct
Semantic intuition:
Intuitive semantic judgements by native speakers
Lexical Semantics
Chpt. 1: “A contextual approach to lexical semantics”
Semantic traits/features/components
A particular word-meaning which participates in the meaning of another word
Statusses of semantic traits:
1. Criterial traits
entailment relations between sentences
it's a dog entails it's an animal
animal = a criterial trait of dog
2. Expected traits
the BUT-test (P, but Q)
it's a dog, but it can bark (odd) = expressive paradox
it's a dog, but it can't bark (normal)
can bark = an expected trait of dog
3. Possible traits
if the BUT-test  expressive paradox and P and Q is normal:
it's a dog, but it's brown (expressive paradox)
it's a dog, but it isn't brown (expressive paradox)
it's a dog and it's brown (hurray!)
brown = a possible trait of dog
4. Unexpected traits
it's a dog, but it can't sing (expressive paradox)
it's a dog, but it can sing
can sing = an unexpected trait of dog (dog does not entail sing)
14/2-2002
Group B1
Lexical Semantics
Chpt. 1: “A contextual approach to lexical semantics”
14/2-2002
Group B1
5. Excluded traits
entailment relations between sentences
it's a dog entails it's not a fish
fish = an excluded trait of dog
6. Canonical traits
it's a dog, but it doesn't have four legs (a defect)
four legs = an expected trait of dog
Disadvantages of the contextual approach
Arbitrary (contexts)
Not possible to distinguish between semantic meaning and pragmatic meaning
Semantics: The study of the meaning of words
Pragmatics: The study of the way words and phrases are used in conversation to express meanings,
feelings and ideas which are sometimes different from the actual meaning of the words used.
Is it possible to describe the meaning of a word?