BAD as a semantic primitive

1999 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 375-403 ◽  
Author(s):  
Uwe Durst
Keyword(s):  
Present Author ◽  
Semantic Analysis ◽  
English Word ◽  
Biblical Hebrew ◽  
Linguistic Form

In an article entitled "Is BAD a semantic primitive?" (1996), John Myhill suggested that the concept 'bad' should be removed from the list of semantic primitives put forward by Anna Wierzbicka and Cliff Goddard. Myhill argued (1) that 'bad' is semantically decomposable, (2) that there is no word in Biblical Hebrew that corresponds to the English word bad and, thus, no linguistic form that represents the primitive BAD in this language, and (3) that 'bad' is dispensable in the semantic analysis and can be replaced with other components without any loss or change of meaning. Discussing and illustrating some fundamental questions in the search for universal semantic primitives, the present author reconsiders these findings and finds a different answer to John Myhill's question.

scholarly journals Experiencer as quasi-agent: «from meaning to the linguistic form»

2020 ◽  
Vol 40 ◽  
pp. 112-136
Author(s):  
М.А. Fomina ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Semantic Analysis ◽  
Linguistic Analysis ◽  
Functional Approach ◽  
Conceptual Category ◽  
Linguistic Representation ◽  
Linguistic Form ◽  
Grammatical Subject

The paper focuses on the category of semantic subject within the framework of a functional approach to linguistics. The variety of roles subject may have in a sentence accounts for the radially structured category of subject. With the agent subject being the center of the category, other members – Possessor, Experiencer, Neutral, etc. – appear to be scattered within the syntactical category of subject being more central or peripheral. The paper deals with the Experiencer subject. The author stresses the key role of a well-elaborated metalanguage in linguistic analysis and assumes that a thorough analysis of the relevant conceptual category, its structure and content, should precede the stage of developing a metalanguage. The paper 1) differentiates between similar though not interchangeable notions such as semantic subject, grammatical subject, and the bearer of predicative feature, 2) features the peripheral status of the Experiencer within the category of semantic subject, 3) reveals the means of its linguistic representation, 4) makes a structural and semantic analysis of the models with the Experiencer.

scholarly journals Analysing Nostalgia in Cross-Linguistic Perspective

Philology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (2018) ◽  
pp. 213-241
Author(s):  
GIAN MARCO FARESE ◽  
YUKO ASANO-CAVANAGH
Keyword(s):  
Semantic Analysis ◽  
Linguistic Analysis ◽  
English Word

Abstract This paper presents a contrastive semantic analysis of the English nostalgia, the Italian nostalgìa and the Japanese natsukashii adopting the methodology of the Natural Semantic Metalanguage. It is argued that: (i) emotion terms of different languages reflect different and culture-specific conceptualisations of human feelings; (ii) the Anglo conceptualisation of feelings is not valid for all cultures; (iii) linguistic analysis is central to the analysis of human feelings. The paper challenges the claim made by some psychologists that the English word nostalgia expresses a feeling which is “pancultural” and criticizes the use of English emotion terms as the basis for discussions on human feelings.

scholarly journals Sounds of Silence in Biblical Hebrew: A Lexical Study

2012 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 159-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Göran Eidevall
Keyword(s):  
English Word ◽  
Biblical Hebrew ◽  
Semantic Field ◽  
Semantic Resources ◽  
Lexical Study ◽  
And Function

AbstractThis article explores the semantic resources of biblical Hebrew, when it comes to speaking about silence. The aim is to reach more clarity concerning the sense and function of pertinent lexemes, and to contribute to a better understanding of the “semantic field” of silence. It is demonstrated that biblical Hebrew had several verbs with the sense “to be silent” (= abstain from speech), but no noun corresponding to the English word “silence” (denoting a situation characterized by the absence of speech or by the complete lack of audible sounds). However, the domains of silence and stillness overlap. Thus, when the biblical writers wanted to describe a situation of “silence”, they could choose one of several words associated with the wider concept of stillness.

scholarly journals Productivity of word-forming models as a phenomenon of mobility of English language space

2021 ◽  
pp. 59-63
Author(s):  
Сафият Крымовна Кубашичева ◽  
Асият Асланбечевна Хатхе
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
Semantic Analysis ◽  
English Word ◽  
Word Formation ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Semantic Features ◽  
Forming Analysis ◽  
Pragmatic Aspect ◽  
Further Development ◽  
Systematic Knowledge

Рассматриваются актуальные структурные модели словообразования и экстралингвистические факторы развития лексической системы английского языка. Использование структурно-семантического анализа позволяет выделить группу новых терминов экономической и финансовой сферы; посредством лингвистического анализа определяются неологизмы, образованные продуктивными способами словосложения. Словообразовательный анализ демонстрирует прагматический аспект новообразований, которые содержат дополнительные стилистические коннотации. Полученные данные способствуют достижению более высокого уровня ментальной адекватности перевода специальных текстов и актуализируют дальнейшие разработки переводческих концепций. Теоретическая значимость и практическая ценность работы заключается в осмыслении общетеоретических представлений и дефиниций, систематизации знаний о структурно-семантических особенностях новой терминологической лексики, а также в возможности использовать результаты исследования английского словообразовательного потенциала на курсах лекций по лексикологии, теории и практике перевода. This work explores current structural models of word formation and extralinguistic factors of the development of the Lexical System of the English language. The use of structural and semantic analysis makes it possible to identify a group of new economic and financial terms; through linguistic analysis, neologisms formed by productive ways of making words are defined. Word-forming analysis demonstrates the pragmatic aspect of neologisms that contain additional stylistic connotations. The findings contribute to a higher level of mental adequacy of translation of special texts and update further development of translation concepts. The theoretical significance and practical value of the work lies in the comprehension of general theoretical ideas and definitions, the systematic knowledge of the structural and semantic features of the new terminological vocabulary, as well as the ability to use the results of the study of English word-forming potential in courses in lexicology, theory and practice of translation.

The Interrogative-Indefinite Puzzle in the Context of Biblical Hebrew

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elitzur A. Bar-Asher Siegal
Keyword(s):  
Semantic Analysis ◽  
Biblical Hebrew ◽  
Formal Semantic ◽  
Natural Connection ◽  
Indefinite Pronouns

The biblical corpus features a number of verses in which interrogative pronouns appear in non-interrogative contexts. The same phenomenon is observed in many other languages and gives rise to the question known in the linguistic literature as “the interrogative-indefinite puzzle,” namely, what is the natural connection between the interrogative and indefinite functions. This paper seeks to explore how this question should be examined in the context of the Biblical Hebrew data. It will be argued that a consideration of typological observations can yield important insights into this question. Subsequently, it proposes a formal semantic analysis of the indefinite pronouns in question and shows how the proposed approach can help explain their distribution.

scholarly journals The Semantics of Purity in the Ancient Near East: Lexical Meaning as a Projection of Embodied Experience

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yitzhaq Feder
Keyword(s):  
Real World ◽  
Cognitive Linguistics ◽  
Semantic Analysis ◽  
Near East ◽  
Biblical Hebrew ◽  
Semantic Structure ◽  
Embodied Experience ◽  
Abstract Concepts ◽  
Lexical Meaning ◽  
Embodiment Theory

This article analyzes the primary terms for purity in Biblical Hebrew, Ugaritic, Sumerian, Akkadian and Hittite. Building on insights from cognitive linguistics and embodiment theory, this study develops the premise that semantic structure—even of seemingly abstract concepts—is grounded in real-world bodily experience. An examination of purity terms reveals that all of them can be related to a concrete sense pertaining to radiance (brilliance, brightness, shininess). The article then traces the semantic development of purity terms in distinct experiential contexts and shows how semantic analysis can elucidate the inner logic of fundamental religious concepts.

scholarly journals DISTRIBUTIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF COMBINING

2021 ◽  
pp. 156-166
Author(s):  
Olena Kruhlij ◽  
Oksana Cherniak
Keyword(s):  
Semantic Analysis ◽  
English Word ◽  
Word Formation ◽  
Fixed Position ◽  
Continuous Sampling ◽  
Scientific Analysis ◽  
Free Position ◽  
General Scientific ◽  
Linguistic Methods

The article is devoted to the study of distributive characteristics of combining forms in Modern English. The material of the study is words and terms taken from the Modern English dictionaries. A number of general scientific (analysis, synthesis, induction, deduction, observation, classification, systematization), as well as purely linguistic methods (method of continuous sampling from lexicographic sources, lexico-semantic analysis, study of vocabulary definitions, contextual interpretation) is applied. The morpheme structure of derivatives with these formants is considered. The positions of the studied units in the morpheme structure of the word are analyzed, as well as the classes of morphemes that are in contact with them. The ways of word formation with the participation of combining forms in Modern English word formation and term formation are singled out. It is revealed that combining forms take an active part in terminological word formation in accordance with the existing patterns and models in the language. In derivation with the participation of the studied elements, depending on the formal means of word formation, affixation, composition and abbreviation are distinguished. The classification of distributive classes with a relatively free and fixed position in the word is given through a detailed study of the sum of all environments of combining forms, order and place, compatibility, properties of their use in relation to other elements are fixed. It was found that the studied elements are characterized by wide combinatorial possibilities, which are manifested in their ability to occupy different positions in the word, which can be relatively free or fixed. Three distributive classes are traced among combining forms the units with relatively free position in a word and fixed position. Bases and prefixes are found in the contact environment of a limited number of combining forms. The vast majority of these forms are combined with elements of the same status and suffixes. Only conditionally complex combining forms are characterized by an identical contact environment on the left and right. Combining forms are mainly characterized by the environment of units with the same status as them (right and left) and suffix environment. A characteristic feature of these elements’ compatibility is the absence of grammatical affixes among the morphemes adjacent to them, and the limited number of prefixes and root morphemes among their contact environment. It seems promising to expand the scope of the study by studying these derivational forms, which function in different terminological systems and in different styles of texts in Modern English. The comparison of combinatorial forms in different modern languages is of particular interest.

Quantitative parallel EELS spectrum imaging developed as a new tool in AEM

1992 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 1202-1203
Author(s):  
Gianluigi Botton ◽  
Gilles L'espérance
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Analysis ◽  
Spatial Resolution ◽  
Personal Computer ◽  
Systematic Study ◽  
Present Author ◽  
Chemical Elements ◽  
Detection Limits ◽  
Research Groups ◽  
Quantitative Performance ◽  
Spectrum Imaging

As interest for parallel EELS spectrum imaging grows in laboratories equipped with commercial spectrometers, different approaches were used in recent years by a few research groups in the development of the technique of spectrum imaging as reported in the literature. Either by controlling, with a personal computer both the microsope and the spectrometer or using more powerful workstations interfaced to conventional multichannel analysers with commercially available programs to control the microscope and the spectrometer, spectrum images can now be obtained. Work on the limits of the technique, in terms of the quantitative performance was reported, however, by the present author where a systematic study of artifacts detection limits, statistical errors as a function of desired spatial resolution and range of chemical elements to be studied in a map was carried out The aim of the present paper is to show an application of quantitative parallel EELS spectrum imaging where statistical analysis is performed at each pixel and interpretation is carried out using criteria established from the statistical analysis and variations in composition are analyzed with the help of information retreived from t/γ maps so that artifacts are avoided.

The observation of nano-voids in Au thin films

1987 ◽  
Vol 45 ◽  
pp. 366-367
Author(s):  
William Krakow
Keyword(s):  
Thin Films ◽  
Melting Point ◽  
Present Author ◽  
Stacking Faults ◽  
Damage Threshold ◽  
Ionic Species ◽  
Rare Gases ◽  
Chain Defects ◽  
Vacancy Chains ◽  
Au Thin Films

It has long been known that defects such as stacking faults and voids can be quenched from various alloyed metals heated to near their melting point. Today it is common practice to irradiate samples with various ionic species of rare gases which also form voids containing solidified phases of the same atomic species, e.g. ref. 3. Equivalently, electron irradiation has been used to produce damage events, e.g. ref. 4. Generally all of the above mentioned studies have relied on diffraction contrast to observe the defects produced down to a dimension of perhaps 10 to 20Å. Also all these studies have used ions or electrons which exceeded the damage threshold for knockon events. In the case of higher resolution studies the present author has identified vacancy and interstitial type chain defects in ion irradiated Si and was able to identify both di-interstitial and di-vacancy chains running through the foil.

Phrase-Learning in Deaf and Hearing Subjects

1967 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 600-605 ◽  
Author(s):  
Penelope B. Odom ◽  
Richard L. Blanton
Keyword(s):  
Word Order ◽  
Fifth Graders ◽  
English Word ◽  
Normal Hearing ◽  
Twelfth Graders ◽  
Memory Processes ◽  
Study Test ◽  
The Mean

Two groups each containing 24 deaf subjects were compared with 24 fifth graders and 24 twelfth graders with normal hearing on the learning of segments of written English. Eight subjects from each group learned phrasally defined segments such as “paid the tall lady,” eight more learned the same words in nonphrases having acceptable English word order such as “lady paid the tall,” and the remaining eight in each group learned the same words scrambled, “lady tall the paid.” The task consisted of 12 study-test trials. Analyses of the mean number of words recalled correctly and the probability of recalling the whole phrase correctly, given that one word of it was recalled, indicated that both ages of hearing subjects showed facilitation on the phrasally defined segments, interference on the scrambled segments. The deaf groups showed no differential recall as a function of phrasal structure. It was concluded that the deaf do not possess the same perceptual or memory processes with regard to English as do the hearing subjects.

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