From Cognition to Linguistics: the Case of Lexicalization

From Cognition to Linguistics: the Case of Lexicalization

FROM COGNITION TO LINGUISTICS: THE CASE OF LEXICALIZATION

Olivier Bertrand

Ecole Polytechnique & CNRS/ATILF, France

In a famous article entitled “Lexicalization and Institutionalization” (1994: 2164-2167), Lipka gave a definition of what a lexicalization process is:

The phenomenon is characterized as ‘a gradual, historical process, involving phonological and semantic changes and the loss of motivation. These changes may be combined in a single word’.

The objective of this paper is to show that the linguistic process of lexicalization comes from a cognitive motivation. Lexicalization is fundamentally diachronic as well as a semantic change process. My concern is to evaluate the move from conception of a neologism in a language to the point of recognition in the language. Here is the continuum that is implied in the process:

  1. (re) distribution of semantic patterns
  2. (re) analysis of the lexeme
  3. use of the lexeme in the language (= neologism)
  4. the new lexeme is included in dictionaries

Steps one and two imply cognition as a prerequisite to the linguistic changes of steps three and four.

I will work on the evolution of different words in French and English such as the evolution of corruption. How does such a lexeme evolve semantically from a very concrete signification of “destruction” to the abstract meaning of “alteration of the thought”, then belonging to the lexicon of political science and theology?

Here is the process of lexicalization that can be schematized:

Schema A

Steps to Lexicalization

Lexicalization

Semantic lexicalization Formal lexicalization

PlainComplexBy derivationBy borrowing

1. Redistribution1. Redistribution1. Distribution1. Distribution

2. Reanalysis 2. Reanalysis2. Analysis2. Analysis

Schema B

Types of Lexicalization

Lexicalization

Institutional LexicalizationPopular lexicalization

General lexiconSpecific lexiconoral language

I will discuss the degree on cognition in the process of lexicalization in linguistics by measuring the influence of society in the neologism process. How and when a lexeme can be considered as a real word in a given language? Does the process come first from linguistics or from a cognitive stimulus? What does linguistic owe to cognition in creative language?

I will compare lexicalization to grammaticalization in order to find out whether or not there is a common mental process in the two linguistic principles.

Short bibliography:

- GEERAERTS Dirk (1983), "Prototype Theory and Diachronic Semantics. A case study.", Indogermanische Forschungen 88, pp.1-32.

- GEERAERTS Dirk (1983), "Reclassifying Semantic Change", Quaderni di Semantica 4, pp. 217-240.

- GEERAERTS Dirk (1992), "Prototypical Effects in Diachronic Semantics : a Round-up.", Diachrony within Synchrony : Language History and Cognition, Kellerman & Morrissey, Frankfurt, Lang, pp. 183-203.

- GEERAERTS Dirk (1997), Diachronic Prototype Semantics, Oxford, Clarendon Press.

- GOSSELIN Laurent (1997), "Les études psycholinguistiques sur la compréhension des expressions ambiguës: une critique linguistique", Sémantique linguistique et psychologie cognitive, sous la direction de Jacques françois et Guy Denhière, Grenoble, Presses Universitaires de Grenoble.

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- HOPPER Paul, TRAUGOTT Elizabeth (1993), Grammaticalization, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.

- LABOV William (1972), Sociolinguistic Patterns, University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia.

- LANGACKER Ronald W. (1991, édition 2002), The Cognitive Basis of Grammar, Berlin, New york, Mouton de Gruyter.

- RASTIER François (1991, éd. 2001), Sémantique et recherches cognitives, Paris, PUF, Formes sémiotiques.

- TRAUGOTT Elizabeth (1985), “On Regularity in Semantic Change” Journal of Literary Semantics, n° 14, pp. 155-173.

- TRAUGOTT Elizabeth (1994), "Gammaticalization and Lexicalization", The Encyclopedia of Language and Linguistics, Asher & Simpson éditeurs, volume 3, Elsevier, pp. 1481-1486.

- TRAUGOTT Elizabeth (1999), "The Rhetoric of Counter-Expectation in Semantic Change : a Study in subjectification", Historical Semantics and Cognition, Blank & Koch éditeurs, Berlin/New York, Mouton de Gruyter, pp. 177-196.

- WIERZBICKA Anna (1985), Lexicography and Conceptual Analysis, Ann Arbor, Karoma

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