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https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/7629
Title: | The lexical semantics of 'language' (with special reference to 'words') | Contributor(s): | Goddard, Cliff (author) | Publication Date: | 2011 | DOI: | 10.1016/j.langsci.2010.03.003 | Handle Link: | https://hdl.handle.net/1959.11/7629 | Abstract: | 'Language' can be regarded as one of the key words of English, as well as the foundational term of the discourse of linguistics. It is well to remember, however, that the concept of a 'language' lacks precise semantic equivalents in many languages. This study presents a semantic-lexicographic analysis of several meanings of the word 'language' in contemporary English, using the Natural Semantic Metalanguage method of semantic description ([Wierzbicka, 1996], [Wierzbicka, 1997], [Goddard, 1998] and [Goddard, 2008]). The study is similar in scope and approach to an earlier study (Goddard, 2005) of the word culture, which resembles 'language' in several important respects. One distinctive aspect of the explications for language is their reliance on the proposed semantic prime words, which is discussed at some length. Though primarily focused on English, the study makes reference to Yankunytjatjara, Chinese, and Russian, among other languages. | Publication Type: | Journal Article | Source of Publication: | Language Sciences, 33(1), p. 40-57 | Publisher: | Elsevier Ltd | Place of Publication: | United Kingdom | ISSN: | 1873-5746 0388-0001 |
Fields of Research (FoR) 2008: | 200408 Linguistic Structures (incl Grammar, Phonology, Lexicon, Semantics) | Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) 2008: | 970120 Expanding Knowledge in Language, Communication and Culture | Peer Reviewed: | Yes | HERDC Category Description: | C1 Refereed Article in a Scholarly Journal |
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Appears in Collections: | Journal Article |
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