Cas LX 02 Semantics 3a. Word meaning 6ish Lexical semantics

A lexeme is more abstract than a “word”

• And what is a “word” anyway?
• We can come up with some more or less arbitrary definitions, but they don’t seem to get us much closer to understanding how the lexicon and semantic system is structured.
• A word has spaces written around it. (isn’t vs. is not?)
• A word can stand alone (*the, *a)
• A word is pronounced separately (dyoowannaeet?)
• A word expresses a concept (again, *the, *although)
• …

What is a “word” anyway?

• Inuktitut: qasuiirsarvigssarsingitluinarnarpuq
• ‘Someone did not find a completely suitable resting place.’ tired cause.be suitable not someone qasu-iir-sar-vig-ssar-si-ngit-luinar-nar-puq not place.for find completely 3sg
• Kick the bucket, get the sack, hit the hay, …
• Turn in, turn on, hand in, write off, …
• Bigger vs. more expansive vs. *expansiver.
• “I’m afraid she’s gone and Michael Jacksoned herself to the point where she doesn’t even appear human anymore” (some random comment on some random blog, referring to California gubernatorial candidate Angelyne. Google “michael jacksoned” if you wish.)

One “word” several lexemes

• bank1 : side of a river.
• bank2 : financial institution
• One word, (at least) two senses, two lexemes.
• The word bank is ambiguous—it could mean ‘bank1’, it could mean ‘bank2’. This is different from vagueness, for example with large, small (Mickey is large, Willy is a small), or student (John, Mary) with respect to gender.

Differentiating ambiguity and vagueness

• One way is with verb phrase ellipsis:
• Tracy ate a sandwich and Pat did too.
• Tracy ate a sandwich and Pat [ate a sandwich] too.
• Pat visited a bank and Tracy did too.
• Pat visited a bank and Tracy [visited a bank] too.
• John is a student and Mary is too.
• Mickey is large and Willy is too.