Lexicology 18532 210976099 2008-05-08T06:05:57Z VolkovBot 3035831 robot Adding: [[be:Лексікалогія]] :''Not to be mistaken with [[lexicography]].'' <!--guidance: Introduction to the Lexicology and Lexicography of English (major lexicological and lexicographic topics), http://www.asusilc.net/s2.htm#a and English lexicology, http://trs.cr.vu.lt/courses/index.php?content=course&num=560--> [http://cougar.eb.com/soundc11/l/lexico06.wav '''Lexicology'''] (from ''lexiko''-, in the Late [[Greek language|Greek]] ''lexikon'') is that part of [[linguistics]], which studies ''[[word]]s'', their nature and meaning, words' elements, relations between words ([[semantics|semantical]] relations), words groups and the whole lexicon. The term first appeared in the [[1820]]s, though there were lexicologists in the straight meaning even before that. '''[[Computational lexicology]]''' as a related field (in the same way that '''computational linguistics''' is related to '''linguistics''') deals with the computational study of dictionaries and their contents. An allied science to lexicology is ''[[lexicography]]'', which also studies words in relation with dictionaries - it is actually concerned with the inclusion of words in dictionaries and from that perspective with the whole [[lexicon]]. Therefore '''''lexicography''''' is the theory and practice of composing dictionaries. Sometimes [[lexicography]] is considered to be a part or a branch of lexicology, but the two disciplines should not be mistaken: [[lexicographer]]s are the people who write dictionaries, they are at the same time [[lexicologist]]s too, but not all [[lexicologist]]s are [[lexicographer]]s. It is said that lexicography is the ''practical lexicology'', it is ''practically oriented'' though it has its own theory, while the pure lexicology is mainly ''theoretical''. == Semantics. Lexical semantics == {{Main|Semantics}} === The domain of Lexical Semantics === Semantical relations between words are manifested in respect of [[homonymy]], [[antonymy]], [[paronymy]], etc. Semantics usually involved in lexicological work is called '''''[[lexical semantics]]'''''. Lexical semantics is somewhat different from other linguistic types of semantics like phrase semantics, semantics of sentence, and text semantics, as they take the notion of meaning in much broader sense. There are outside (although sometimes related to) linguistics types of semantics like cultural semantics and computational semantics, as the latest is not related to [[computational lexicology]] but to [[mathematical logic]]. Among semantics of language, lexical semantics is most robust, and to some extend the phrase semantics too, while other types of linguistic semantics are new and not quite examined. === History of Lexical Semantics === [[Lexical semantics]] may not be understood without a brief exploration of its history. '''Prestructuralist semantics''' [[Semantics]] as a linguistic discipline has its beginning in the middle of the 19th century, and because [[linguistics]] at the time was predominantly [[wikt:diachronic|diachronic]], thus [[lexical semantics]] was diachronic too - it dominated the scene between the years of [[1870]] and [[1930]].<ref>Dirk Geeraerts, The theoretical and descriptive development of lexical semantics, Prestructuralist semantics, Published in: The Lexicon in Focus. Competition and Convergence in Current Lexicology, ed. Leila Behrens and Dietmar Zaefferer, p. 23-42</ref> Diachronic lexical semantics was interested without a doubt in the change of meaning with predominantly [[semasiology|semasiological]] approach, taking the notion of meaning in a psychological aspect: lexical meanings were considered to be psychological entities), thoughts and ideas, and meaning changes are explained as resulting from psychological processes. '''Structuralist and neostructuralist semantics''' With the rise of new ideas after the ground brake of [[Saussure]]'s work, prestructuralist diachronic semantics was considerably criticized for the atomic study of words, the [[wikt:diachronic|diachronic]] approach and the mingle of nonlinguistics spheres of investigation. The study became [[wikt:synchronic|synchronic]], concerned with semantic structures and narrowly linguistic. Semantic structural relations of lexical entities can be seen in three ways: #semantic similarity #lexical relations such as synonymy, antonymy, and hyponymy #syntagmatic lexical relations were identified As structuralist lexical semantics was revived by neostructuralist not much work was done by them, it is actually admitted by the followers. It may be seen that [[WordNet]] "is a type of an online electronic lexical database organized on ''relational principles'', which now comprises nearly 100,000 concepts" as Dirk Geeraerts<ref>Dirk Geeraerts, The theoretical and descriptive development of lexical semantics, Structuralist and neostructuralist semantics, Published in: The Lexicon in Focus. Competition and Convergence in Current Lexicology, ed. Leila Behrens and Dietmar Zaefferer, p. 23-42</ref> states it. '''Chomskyan school: interpretative and generative semantics''' {{Main|Generative semantics}} Followers of Chomskyan generative approach to grammar soon investigated two different types of semantics, which, unfortunately, clashed in an effusive debate<ref>Harris, Randy Allen (1993) The Linguistics Wars, Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press</ref>, these were interpretative and [[generative semantics]]. '''Cognitive semantics''' {{Main|Cognitive semantics}} Cognitive lexical semantics is thought to be most productive of the current approaches. == Phraseology == {{Main|Phraseology}} Another branch of lexicology, together with lexicography is [[phraseology]]. It studies compound meanings of two or more words, as in "raining cats and dogs". Because the whole meaning of that phrase is much different from the meaning of words included alone, phraseology examines how and why such meanings come in everyday use, and what possibly are the laws governing these word combinations. Phraseology also investigates [[idiom|idioms]]. == Etymology == {{Main|Etymology}} Because lexicology studies the meaning of words and their semantical relations, it often is interested in the history of the word, or even in history of vocabulary and lexicon. Etymology is closely used to clarify some questionable meanings, spellings, etc., and is also a matter of lexicography - etymological dictionaries give words with their historical change and development. == Lexicology in life: Lexicography == {{Main|Lexicography}} A good example of lexicology at work, that everyone is familiar with, is that of [[dictionary|dictionaries]] and [[thesaurus]]. Dictionaries are books or computer programs (or data bases) that actually represent lexicographical work, they are opened and purposed for the use of public. As there are many different types of dictionaries, there are many different types of lexicographers. Questions that lexicographers are concerned with are for example the difficulties in defining what simple words such as 'the' mean, and how compound or complex words, or words with many meanings can be clearly explained. Also which words to keep in and which not to include in a dictionary. === Noted lexicographers === {{Main|Lexicographer}} Some noted lexicographers include: * Dr [[Samuel Johnson]] (September 18, 1709 – December 13, 1784) * French lexicographer [[Pierre Larousse]] ([[October 23]], [[1817]]-[[January 3]], [[1875]]) * [[Noah Webster]] ([[October 16]], [[1758]] – [[May 28]], [[1843]]) * Russian lexicographer [[Vladimir Dal]] ([[November 10]], [[1801]] – [[September 22]], [[1872]]) <!--this section's partially removed because of lack of sourced and reliable info == Lexicologists: == * Damaso Alonso, (Oct. 22, 1898-) Spanish literary critic and lexicologist * [[Roland Barthes]], (Nov. 12, 1915-Mar. 25, 1980) French writer, critic and lexicologist --> == Bibliography == * ''Lexicology/Lexikologie: International Handbook on the Nature and Structure of Words and Vocabulary/Ein Internationales Handbuch Zur Natur and Struktur Von Wortern Und Wortschatzen, Vol 1. & Vol 2.'' (Eds. A. Cruse et al) * ''Words, Meaning, and Vocabulary: An Introduction to Modern English Lexicology,'' (ed. H. Jackson); ISBN 0-304-70396-6 * ''Toward a Functional Lexicology'', (ed. G. Wotjak); ISBN 0-8204-3526-0 * ''Lexicology, Semantics, and Lexicography'', (ed. J. Coleman); ISBN 1-55619-972-4 * ''English Lexicology: Lexical Structure, Word Semantics & Word-formation'',(Leonhard Lipka.); ISBN 9783823349952 * ''Outline of English Lexicology '', (Leonhard Lipka.); ISBN 3484410035 ==References== <references /> == See also == * [[Lexeme]] * [[Lexicon]] * [[Lexicography]] * [[Computational lexicology]] * [[Semasiology]] * [[Onomasiology]] * [[English lexicology and lexicography]] ==External links== {{wiktionary}} ''Societies:'' * [http://www.atala.org Association for Automatic Language Processing (ATALA), Paris, France] * [http://www.le.ac.uk/english/jmc21/ishll.html International Society for Historical Lexicography and Lexicology, University of Leicester] ''Theory:'' * [http://www.ciil-ebooks.net/html/lexico/link4.htm Lexicology vs. lexicography - an explaination] * [http://coral.lili.uni-bielefeld.de/Classes/Winter99/GSdictionary/CompLex/node2.html Lexicography, lexicology, lexicon theory] ''Glossary:'' * [http://www.sil.org/linguistics/GlossaryOfLinguisticTerms/GlossaryLinguisticsL.htm 'L' entries (from lexeme to lexicon) at SIL (Summer Institute of Linguistics)'s glossary of linguistic terms] ''Teaching Material:'' *[http://www1.ku-eichstaett.de/SLF/EngluVglSW/OnOnMon1.pdf ''English and General Historical Lexicology'' (by Joachim Grzega and Marion Schöner] ''Journals:'' *[http://screcherche.univ-lyon3.fr/lexis ''Lexis, E-Journal in English Lexicology'' (by Denis Jamet)] [[Category:Lexicology| ]] [[ast:Lexicoloxía]] [[bn:অভিধানবিজ্ঞান]] [[be:Лексікалогія]] [[bs:Leksikologija]] [[bg:Лексикология]] [[ca:Lexicologia]] [[cv:Лексикологи]] [[cs:Lexikologie]] [[de:Lexikologie]] [[es:Lexicología]] [[eo:Leksikologio]] [[eu:Lexikologia]] [[fr:Lexicologie]] [[gl:Lexicoloxía]] [[hr:Leksikologija]] [[io:Lexikologio]] [[it:Lessicologia]] [[lt:Leksikologija]] [[nl:Lexicologie]] [[ja:語彙論]] [[oc:Lexicologia]] [[pl:Leksykologia]] [[pt:Lexicologia]] [[ru:Лексикология]] [[sk:Lexikológia]] [[fi:Leksikologia]] [[uk:Лексикологія]] [[zh:词汇学]]