In this book, the author argues that words should be presumed initially to be monosemic: having a single, highly abstract meaning. Semantic research should first seek a unitary meaning, resorting to polysemy, homonymy or idiomaticity only when an extended attempt fails. Utilizing a large data base, this book shows that some supposed "lexical" semantic meaning is actually pragmatic or extralinguistic. Included are extensive treatments of the verbs bear, hit, kick and slap, the phrase take off, and the noun ice.
Ruhl studies linguistic research methods and theory, most directly relevant to the fields of semantics and pragmatics, and also to lexicography, cognitive science, and artificial intelligence. The hypothesis of monosemy implies significant changes of perspective and application for all fields which deal in lexical definition.
| ISBN: | 9780887069475 |
| Publication date: | 17th July 1989 |
| Author: | Charles Ruhl |
| Publisher: | SUNY Press an imprint of State University of New York Press |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Pagination: | 299 pages |
| Series: | SUNY Series in Linguistics |
| Genres: |
Phenomenology and Existentialism |
In this book, the author argues that words should be presumed initially to be monosemic: having a single, highly abstract meaning. Semantic research should first seek a unitary meaning, resorting to polysemy, homonymy or idiomaticity only when an extended attempt fails.
On Monosemy features in the following genres: Phenomenology and Existentialism
Hardback, Paperback. Not Available.
On Monosemy was written by Charles Ruhl and published by SUNY Press an imprint of State University of New York Press
On Monosemy has 299 pages
Yes it is part of SUNY Series in Linguistics series