scholarly journals Simulating semantic change: A methodological note

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 184
Author(s):  
Remus Gergel ◽  
Martin Kopf-Giammanco ◽  
Maike Puhl
Keyword(s):  
Native Speakers ◽  
Current Work ◽  
Semantic Change ◽  
High Confidence ◽  
Meaning Change ◽  
Simulation Paradigm ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Additive Particle

The current work discusses the Human Diachronic Simulation Paradigm (HUDSPA), a method to experimentally probe into historical meaning change set up to (i) scan for configurations similar to attested alterations of meaning but in (typically, but not necessarily, related) languages or varieties which did not actualize the change(s) under investigations; (ii) measure the reactions of native speakers in order to ascertain the verisimilitude as well as the particular semantic and pragmatic properties of the items scrutinized. Specifically, the present paper discusses the relative propensity of a particularizer (German eben) to be interpreted with comparatively high confidence as a scalar additive particle such as even and of a concessive item like English though to be interpreted similar to a modal particle along the lines of German doch.

scholarly journals Functional Neuroanatomy of Contextual Acquisition of Concrete and Abstract Words

2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
pp. 2154-2171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Mestres-Missé ◽  
Thomas F. Münte ◽  
Antoni Rodriguez-Fornells
Keyword(s):  
Native Speakers ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Functional Neuroanatomy ◽  
Linguistic Context ◽  
Abstract Concepts ◽  
New Words ◽  
Simulation Paradigm ◽  
Abstract Words ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Concrete Words

The meaning of a novel word can be acquired by extracting it from linguistic context. Here we simulated word learning of new words associated to concrete and abstract concepts in a variant of the human simulation paradigm that provided linguistic context information in order to characterize the brain systems involved. Native speakers of Spanish read pairs of sentences in order to derive the meaning of a new word that appeared in the terminal position of the sentences. fMRI revealed that learning the meaning associated to concrete and abstract new words was qualitatively different and recruited similar brain regions as the processing of real concrete and abstract words. In particular, learning of new concrete words selectively boosted the activation of the ventral anterior fusiform gyrus, a region driven by imageability, which has previously been implicated in the processing of concrete words.

Meaning change in Chinese: A numeral phrase construction from adjectives to superlatives to definite descriptions

Linguistics ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 599-651 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dawei Jin ◽  
Jun Chen
Keyword(s):  
Change Process ◽  
Definite Descriptions ◽  
Literal Meaning ◽  
Semantic Change ◽  
Gradable Adjectives ◽  
Meaning Change ◽  
Truth Conditional

Abstract This paper analyzes a hitherto unnoticed semantic change process in Chinese, in which lexical (adjectival) materials develop into superlative operators, and subsequently turn into definiteness markers. Our analysis focuses on the semantic factors that underlie this meaning change trajectory. Specifically, we argue that frequent association of gradable adjectives with superlative implication leads to pragmatic strengthening in which the superlative implication conventionally enters the literal meaning. Furthermore, we show that a further change in the extension of the nominal part of superlative phrases leads to a maximality reanalysis that is compatible with the semantics of definite NPs. This paper contributes to the burgeoning field of applying truth-conditional semantics to theories of grammaticalization.

Semantic Change

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Closs Traugott
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Processes ◽  
Semantic Change ◽  
Enabling Factors ◽  
Contextual Data ◽  
Analogical Thinking ◽  
Fine Grained ◽  
Meaning Change ◽  
Word Classes ◽  
Traditional Approaches ◽  
Types Of Change

Traditional approaches to semantic change typically focus on outcomes of meaning change and list types of change such as metaphoric and metonymic extension, broadening and narrowing, and the development of positive and negative meanings. Examples are usually considered out of context, and are lexical members of nominal and adjectival word classes. However, language is a communicative activity that is highly dependent on context, whether that of the ongoing discourse or of social and ideological changes. Much recent work on semantic change has focused, not on results of change, but on pragmatic enabling factors for change in the flow of speech. Attention has been paid to the contributions of cognitive processes, such as analogical thinking, production of cues as to how a message is to be interpreted, and perception or interpretation of meaning, especially in grammaticalization. Mechanisms of change such as metaphorization, metonymization, and subjectification have been among topics of special interest and debate. The work has been enabled by the fine-grained approach to contextual data that electronic corpora allow.

Time and truth

2000 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 345-377 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulrich Detges
Keyword(s):  
Old English ◽  
Invisible Hand ◽  
Past Participle ◽  
Semantic Change ◽  
Meaning Change ◽  
Discourse Strategies ◽  
The Invisible

This paper is concerned with the “invisible hand” behind the polygenetic pathways of semantic change in grammaticalization. A comparison between Old English habban + Past Participle and Spanish tener + Past Participle brings to light specific discourse strategies which speakers use resultatives for. On the basis of this analysis, the paper re-examines the problem of explaining the shift from non-temporal to temporal meaning. It is argued that this shift is brought about by some very basic discourse strategies which are strong motives for repeated meaning change in the same direction.

Learnability issues in L2 Japanese: Prosody and ambiguity resolution

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-28
Author(s):  
Masaaki Kamiya ◽  
Priya Ananth
Keyword(s):  
Ambiguity Resolution ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
Long Term Memory ◽  
Acoustic Cues ◽  
Term Memory ◽  
Prosodic Cues ◽  
Cognitive Context ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Japanese Learners

AbstractPrevious studies in L1 research have claimed that native speakers are able to disambiguate scopally ambiguous sentences using prosodic cues. The present study seeks to investigate if the above claim is true in the case of learners of the Japanese language. We discovered that L2 Japanese learners had difficulty in mapping between scopally ambiguous interpretations and their appropriate prosodic patterns. We claim that these prosodic patterns were neither taught explicitly in class, nor are they available in the learners’ L1 knowledge base. Since they do not possess such knowledge in their long-term memory, the immediate cognitive context could not match with the incoming linguistic acoustic cues to give rise to salience. The present study suggests that L2 Japanese learners cannot learn accentual patterns implicitly, at least in a formal classroom set up, a conclusion corroborated by previous studies.

scholarly journals On the relationship between argument structure change and semantic change

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 26
Author(s):  
Bethany J. Christiansen ◽  
Brian D. Joseph
Keyword(s):  
Argument Structure ◽  
Structure Change ◽  
Semantic Change ◽  
Meaning Change ◽  
The Relationship

Argument structure (AS) and meaning are closely related, but the nature of the relationship is disputed. It is not entirely deterministic, as not all aspects of AS and meaning necessarily match up. Most discussion has focused on theory-internal issues and/or synchronic analysis of argument alternations. We, however, take a diachronic perspective, addressing how change in a verb’s AS correlates with meaning and vice-versa, and specifically asking if AS changes first, giving new semantics, or if meaning change triggers a different AS. We study these issues empirically via corpus work on the verb babysit, since it shows interesting changes involving AS and semantics in the relatively shallow diachrony of modern English.

scholarly journals IDENTIFYING THE KEY COMPONENTS OF PHRASEOLOGICAL UNITS

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 233-239
Author(s):  
Roza Ayupova ◽  
Elena Arsenteva ◽  
Gulnara Lutfullina ◽  
Elena Nikulina
Keyword(s):  
Native Speakers ◽  
Experimental Methods ◽  
Time Limit ◽  
Current Work ◽  
Component Part ◽  
Semantic Model ◽  
Study Analysis

Purpose of the study: The experiment is aimed at studying the potential of non-native speakers in applying various idiom transformations. The relevance of the current work is closely related to its purpose since the ability to identify the key component of an idiom or proverb makes their comprehension much easier and deeper. Methodology: The authors used experimental methods to reveal the role of transformations in identifying the key components of idioms. The experiment included several types of experiments: natural, transformational, open and mental. The subjects were 28 third-year students of Kazan Federal University whose major is English as a group of informants. The group of informants was given 10 English phraseological units which include a component part nominating some profession. Students were given two tasks and the time limit given for it was 2 – 2.5 hours. Main Findings: The paper describes an experiment conducted with the purpose of identifying key components/components of phraseological units. Having analyzed two types of phraseological transformations (substitution and deletion) performed by informants, we draw conclusions concerning the relevance of applying each of these types of transformation for the purpose of identifying the key component/components. Applications of this study: Analysis of the results of the experiment conducted within this research demonstrates that each of the phraseological units under analysis is built according to a particular semantic model, which is retained when any of the component parts are substituted and can be restored when deleting component parts other than key ones. Novelty/Originality of this study: The fact that most phraseological units are built according to some semantic template and the possibility of distinguishing one or more key components within them is assumed. The experiment also reveals the possibility of an element of a phraseological unit being not necessarily a component part. The relevance of the current work is closely related to its purpose since the ability to identify the key component of an idiom or proverb makes their comprehension much easier and deeper.

scholarly journals Meaning change in a petri dish: constructions, semantic vector spaces, and motion charts

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Hilpert ◽  
Florent Perek
Keyword(s):  
Petri Dish ◽  
Linguistic Meaning ◽  
Semantic Change ◽  
Meaning Change ◽  
Space Modeling ◽  
Semantic Shift ◽  
Vector Space Modeling ◽  
The Many ◽  
Linguistic Units

AbstractThis paper explores how the visualization tool of motion charts can be used for the analysis of meaning change in linguistic constructions. In previous work, linguistic motion charts have been used to represent diachronic frequency trends and changes in the morphosyntactic behavior of linguistic units. The present paper builds on that work, but it shifts the focus to the study of semantic change. How can motion charts be used to visualize semantic change over time? In order to answer this question, we draw on semantic vector space modeling to visualize aspects of linguistic meaning. As an analogy to this approach, the title of this paper alludes to a petri dish in which the growth and development of biological microorganisms can be observed. On the basis of diachronic corpus data, we monitor developments in the semantic ecology of a construction. This allows us to observe processes such as semantic broadening, semantic narrowing, or semantic shift. We illustrate our approach on the basis of a case study that investigates the diachrony of an English construction that we call the ‘many a NOUN’ construction.

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