The Structure of Lexicon

Presentation outline
What is a lexeme?
What is a semantic structure ?
How is lexicon structured?
What is a semantic field?
Neatness vs. fuzziness?
Is the stylistic factor important?
In vino veritas, or truth comes out from wine!

Presentation outline
What is a lexeme?
What is a semantic structure ?
How is lexicon structured?
What is a semantic field?
Neatness vs. fuzziness?
Is the stylistic factor important?
In vino veritas, or truth comes out from wine!

What is a lexeme?
“A lexeme is a fundamental unit of the vocabulary of a language”
[Mid-20th century. Coined from lexicon + -eme .]

Different forms of a lexeme

What is a semantic structure?
It is a network of meaning relationships which bind lexemes together

Lexicon structure

3 types of lexemes (uncle)
Aunt, cousin, nephew, niece
Relatives, family, reunion (when the family gathers together)
Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Uncle Sam (USA)
Idiosyncratic use: my looney uncle = my crazy uncle)

Presentation outline
What is a lexeme?
What is a semantic structure ?
How is lexicon structured?
What is a semantic field?
Neatness vs. fuzziness?
Is the stylistic factor important?
In vino veritas, or truth comes out from wine!

What is a semantic field?
It is a named area of meaning in which lexemes interrelate and define each other in specific ways

Colour: blue

Tropical Fruit

Neatness vs fuzziness
NOISE:
murmur , din , blare , clamour
clatter, hubbub , racket
sound , uproar
talk and rumours
atmospheric noise
big noise

Presentation outline
What is a lexeme?
What is a semantic structure ?
How is lexicon structured?
What is a semantic field?
Neatness vs. fuzziness?
Is the stylistic factor important?
In vino veritas, or truth comes out from wine!

What is wrong with a stylistic factor, or what is so special in
the vocabulary of wine?
Figurative lexeme application
Numerous associations
Subjectivity of topic

Wine can taste . . .
Bland (implies lack of character, too mild)
Dry (not sweet, sugar fully fermented out)
Finesse (elegant and refined)

Wine can taste …
Heavy (over-endowed with alcohol, lacking finesse)
Meaty (thick, almost chewable flavour)
Tart (tongue curling)

IN VINO VERITAS, OR
TRUTH COMES OUT FROM WINE!

Conclusions
A lexeme: a fundamental vocabulary unit
A semantic structure as a lexeme network
A semantic field as an area of lexemes’ interrelation
The vocabulary of wine: figurative, ambiguous, subjective, and . . .

LOVELY!