Premium Essay

Lexicon

In: English and Literature

Submitted By hometown
Words 582
Pages 3
Definition:
(1) The collection of words--the internalized dictionary--that every speaker of the language has.
(2) A stock of terms used in a particular profession, subject, or style.
Etymology:
From the Greek, "word, speech"
Examples and Observations:
• The lexicon of soccer ("football" outside the U.S.) includes terms such as linesman, friendly match, yellow card, penalty shootout, pitch, result, and draw.

• Words by the Numbers
- "[T]here are currently about 600,000 words in the English language, with educated adults using about 2,000 words in daily conversation. For the 500 most frequently used words, there are some 14,000 dictionary meanings."
(Wallace V. Schmidt et al., Communicating Globally. Sage, 2007)

- "The English lexicon grew by 70 percent from 1950 to 2000, with roughly 8,500 new words entering the language each year. Dictionaries don't reflect a lot of those words."
(Marc Parry, "Scholars Elicit a 'Cultural Genome' From 5.2 Million Google-Digitized Books." The Chronicle of Higher Education, December 16, 2010)

• Myths of Word Learning
"If you attend a class on language acquisition, or read any good introductory chapter on the subject, you are likely to learn the following facts about word learning. Children's first words are odd; they have funny meanings that violate certain semantic principles that hold for adult language and are learned in a slow and haphazard way. Then, at about 16 months, or after learning about fifty words, there is a sudden acceleration in the rate of word learning--a word spurt or vocabulary explosion. From this point on, children learn words at the rate of five, ten, or even fifteen new words a day.

"I will suggest here that none of these claims are true. They are myths of word learning. There is no reason to believe that children's first words are learned and understood in an immature fashion--and there

Similar Documents

Free Essay

The Generation Effect

...EXPERIMENT 1 READINGS Representation in the mental lexicon: Implications for theories of the generation effect Three experiments investigated the finding by McElroy and Slamecka (1982) that the "generation effect" (the retention advantage for self-produced over read items) is not obtained when artificial, meaningless nonwords are used as the to-be-remembered items. In Experiment 1, some subjects were asked to generate or read items that they thought were words, but, in fact, were not; no generation effect was found. In Experiment 2, subjects were taught definitions to experimenter-created items. Despite the fact that these subjects could readily retrieve each item's assigned semantic properties, no generation effect was found. Experiment 3 examined the read/generate variable as a function of an item's frequency of use in the language. Whereas medium- and high-frequency words produced large generation effects, no comparable effects were found for low-frequency words or nonwords. These results indicate that representation in the mental lexicon is a necessary, but not a sufficient, condition for the generation effect. Rather, it may be necessary to consider how related the generated item is to other potential retrieval cues in the memory system. ( it was highlighted that semantic meaning was not enough to produce a generation effect. Nairne et al suggested that word association, not just lexicon entry, in the mental lexicon May be another factor in the production of...

Words: 551 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Thesaurus Model

...In this part of the essay, I will attempt to structure a lexical field diagram for theterms given, followed by a general description of how the field is arranged and someproblems of Semantic Field Theory.Regarding the role of paradigmatic semantic relations in the mental lexicon, twotheories of meaning have been developed. The first one is dictionary approaches whichmentions that mental lexicon is like a dictionary where meanings of words arecomponentially represented in the mind. The approaches also suggest that semanticrelations are not required to be represented in the lexicon. On the contrary, thesaurusapproaches propose that semantic relations are represented in the lexicon and thatlexical items are linked to one another to indicate which words are synonyms, antonymsand hyponyms of which words.One thesaurus-type approach is Semantic Field Theory which presents the lexicon tobe internally structured by paradigmatic relations especially synonymy, contrast andhyponymy. The theory involves a range of related vocabulary, for example, the givenvocabulary items are related to family relationship. Relations between the items can beillustrated using a box diagram. Figure 1 (Appendix 1) follows the box diagram style inrepresenting the semantic field of English family relationship nouns. The field in Figure 1 represents contrast relations or antonyms among the lexical itemsof family on the horizontal axis. When two lexemes on the same levels are separated bya line, they contrast...

Words: 774 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Medical Research

...JSLHR Research Article Lexical Effects on Children’s Speech Processing: Individual Differences Reflected in the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) Mitsuhiko Ota,a Mary E. Stewart,b Alexandra M. Petrou,b and Catherine Dickiec Purpose: This study was undertaken to examine whether children exhibit the same relationship that adults show between lexical influence on phoneme identification and individual variation on the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ). Method: Data from 62 4- to 7-year-olds with no diagnosis of autism were analyzed. The main task involved identification of the initial sound in pairs of voice-onset time continua with a real word on one end and a nonword on the other (e.g., gift–kift, giss–kiss). Participants were also given the children’s version of the AQ and a 2nd instrument related to autistic-like traits, the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS). Results: The lexical shift was related to the AQ (particularly to its Attention Switching subscale) but not to the SRS. Conclusions: The size of lexical effects on children’s speech perception can be predicted by AQ scores but not necessarily by other measures of autism-like traits. The results indicate that speech perception in children manifests individual differences along some general dimension of cognitive style reflected in the AQ, possibly in relation to local/global information processing. U Ota, 2008; Yu, 2010; Yu, Abrego-Collier, & Sonderegger, 2013). The Autism-Spectrum Quotient...

Words: 5913 - Pages: 24

Premium Essay

Language and Lexicon

...Language and Lexicon Penny Rider Psychology 360 July 23, 2012 University of Phoenix Language and Lexicon Humans depend on language to communicate with others. The use of communication can be in many forms, such as verbal, written, or the use of signals. A person uses language to communicate feelings, emotions, thoughts, and fears to others. The use of language sounds are how society learns new and different ways of communicating with the rest of the world and various ways of thinking. Language and language development are important in producing a person’s dynamic and interactive systems. These systems reinforce a person’s instincts pertaining to nature and nurture. The development and learning processes of language helps the mind to distinguish the differences of words to the language coming from sounds. These processes help to a person understand sneezes, coughs, or other sounds coming from the mouth is not the same as sounds of language. The words of language are separated into groups, objects, events, and actions. The process of learning language begins in a person’s early years through nature, starting point, and nurture, environmental influences. A person cannot communicate or understand the meaning of an object without the use of language. The uses of signs are not valuable without the organization into various relationships of language through the translation of concepts. Every culture has different language and lexicon. The vocabulary of language is defined...

Words: 1213 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Lexicon Furniture - Edit

...An E-commerce Solution for Lexicon Furniture Learning Team Fundamentals of Business Systems Development BSA 375 September 2003 Table of Contents I. Project Overview and Objectives a. Current Business Process b. Statement of Purpose c. Project Scope d. Project Objectives e. Project Responsibilities f. Project Timeline and Deliverables g. Deliverable: Project Proposal II. Systems Investigation and Feasibility a. Technical Feasibility b. Operational Feasibility c. Economic Feasibility i. Economic Costs ii. Economic Benefits iii. Cost/Benefit Analysis d. Deliverable: Feasibility Assessment III. Systems Analysis a. Analysis of Business Requirements i. Build ii. Serve iii. Transact iv. Operate v. Protect b. List of Confirmed Requirements c. System Process View i. Benefits ii. Constraints iii. Assumptions iv. Risks d. Analysis of Business Resources and Functional Allocation i. People Resources ii. Hardware Resources iii. Software Resources iv. Network Resources e. Logical System Model f. Deliverable: Business Requirements Statement IV. System Design a. Evaluation of...

Words: 5439 - Pages: 22

Premium Essay

Reminders of Poverty, Soon Forgotten

...readers believe the writers point of view. Pathos principle, emotion, is used to win over a reader by using their emotional convictions. Merriam-Webster describes this one as using pity or compassion. The author tries to persuade the reader emotionally to feel the same way they do and to identify with the author’s opinion. The principle of Logos is logical; this appeals the reader’s logic and reasoning. The author uses ways to make the reader think of the explanation and agree because of the reader understanding and believing in the logical reasoning behind it. The author may identify with the readers self-interest and take advantage of this with common favoritism. The Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, An Intermediate Greek-English Lexicon describes Logos as a Greek word meaning “The word or that by which the inward thought is expressed.”...

Words: 794 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

To What Extent Is Lexical Borrowing Necessary to Fill the Gaps in the Native Lexicon?

...in the native lexicon? | A language or a dialect cannot exist on its own. Since the beginning of human history multilingualism has always been a common use among people speaking another language because it was the only way to communicate between them. From the moment two cultures are in contact, there are exchanges of ideas, information, goods… and vocabulary. In ancient times, the Greeks created the concept of democracy, and the word that designates it, was borrowed later by the Latin before being used in English. English draws several words from the vocabulary of French cookery (chef, menu, entrée); the French borrowed musical vocabulary from the Italian (allegro, concerto), but with the birth of industrialisation and of new technologies, most other languages now borrow from English. In countries where more than one language is spoken, the phenomenon of borrowing is very frequent. Those different languages are spoken in very close territories, so that their speakers have contact with each other and by hearing the language of the others, they end up by integrating some words of the other language. Borrowings or loanwords, less numerous than words of the mother language (except with the Creoles) though, are extremely common in the vocabulary of many languages: this is an unconscious process and a constituent factor in the life and evolution of languages. In my essay I will show how necessary are the lexical borrowings to fill the gaps in a native lexicon. To do so I will...

Words: 2098 - Pages: 9

Premium Essay

Language Essay

...Language Essay Ryan Butler Psychology 360 August 29, 2011 Professor Newlin LANGUAGE Have you ever wondered how we speak? How about why our communication is considered a language and other animal’s communication is not considered language? A wide range of beliefs exist on what defines language. Thus, by exploring the definition of language and lexicon, evaluating language’s key features, the four levels of language structure and processing, and the role of language in Cognitive Psychology, an understanding of what language is becomes clear. Let us begin by defining language and a term named lexicon. LANGUAGE AND LEXICON DEFINITION One big question, when the subject of language comes up, is exactly what language is. What constitutes something as a language? By explaining one definition of a language, and a term associated with language, called a lexicon, a definition of language transpires. Thus, the Willingham (2007) text mentions four certain characteristics communication must possess to, officially, be considered a language.  One of these characteristics is that language must be communicative, and thus be communication between individuals in some form or another.  Secondly, the symbols standing for words must be arbitrary, and thus have no reason for representing a word.  Third, a language must be structured, and not arbitrary.  For example, if I say a dog was walking on a sidewalk I cannot say a sidewalk was walking on a dog. etc.  Fourth, a language must be...

Words: 1420 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Animals

...Neologisms Connected with B. Obama's Presidency……………………………...9 4. CONCLUSION………………………………………………………………….15 5. BIBLIOGRAPHY…………………………………………………………………..17 1 Introduction The current graduation paper is devoted to the detailed study of the neologisms in the American press. The latter is observed via examining the cases of neologisms brought forward by B. Obama. In this paper an attempt was made to throw light upon many words and phrases that are used in modern American political lexicon, as well as to examine some political neologisms that help to cover the 2008 Presidental Election Campaign. The graduation paper consists of an introduction, two chapters, conclusion and bibliography. The introduction manifests the main topic of the research, the major phenomenon related to the investigation and to basic structure of the paper. In throws light upon the development of the political language which promotes the creation of neologisms. Chapter One analyzes the political language in general as well as the four main political styles that the political language is...

Words: 5225 - Pages: 21

Premium Essay

Defining Language

...this really a form of Language? According Willingham, (2007), Communication must be communicative, arbitrary, structured, generative and dynamic to be deemed language. Although a baby cry is a form of communication, and it is arbitrary, it is not structured it only composes a single sound, and it is not generative. Because the baby’s cry lacks those two components it is not considered a reasonable form of communication. Furthermore, human cognitive functions and language assimilation is the mental dictionary that contains all stored representation of words. This is called the lexicon. When people speak about the lexicon they are literally talking about someone’s vocabulary. According to Oxford dictionary lexicon is the vocabulary of a person language, or branch of knowledge. Lexicon is more along the lines of what speech sounds, or written symbols mean in a language. If the individual does not know that lexicon he or she cannot possibly know the language. Key Features of Language Because of the linguistics of language, it is more difficult to define. Before an individual can understand language, he or she must evaluate the key features of language. The key futures hold the precise parts of language. First is the...

Words: 1148 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

I Dont Know

...Reflective Essay This semester of English A has really helped me grow as a better writer. When it came to English I was one of the people who hated it, because I knew writing was involved. With the help of a challenging assignments, Lexicon quizzes, and a guiding professor I can finally say I’m on the right track to a brighter future. I’m the type of person who loves to be challenged, and with the assignments given in this semester class I feel like I can accomplish any hard task thrown at me. I remember when I first entered the class my mood was very lethargic, because it was my second time in English A. I thought if I didn’t get it the first time what makes people think I’m going to be able to the second time around. As I think back, I remember the first paper issued was a reading on Abraham Lincoln. We had to read what I thought was a boring passage, so the class had already lost me there, then we had to write something about and that was another “oh no” for me. As I was writing the paper I grew more and more chuffed about it. You may not believe but I finally finished the paper, I wasn’t too confident about it but I was thinking “hey, at least it’s something to turn in.” However the day it was due I wasn’t allowed to turn it in do to tardiness, then all I could think was “welcome to college English A.” Now the nest project was due, which was the annotated bibliography. By this time around I started growing confidence because it was something new and was way different...

Words: 640 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Three Knowledge Sources of the Unified Medical Language System

...Metathesaurus®, the Semantic Network, and the SPECIALIST Lexicon. The National Library of Medicine (NLM) creates the Unified Medical Language System® (UMLS®) to facilitate the development of computer systems that act as if they "understand" the meaning of the language of biomedicine and health. This system is modernized twice a year in May and November. The Metathesaurus®, is a customizable, multi-purpose, and multi-lingual vocabulary database that is organized by concept, or meaning. It connects alternative names and views of the same concepts from different source vocabularies and identifies useful relationships between different concepts The Semantic Network consists of a set of broad subject categories, or semantic types, that provide a consistent categorization of all concepts represented in the UMLS. Also incorporated in this network is a set of practical and significant relationships, or semantic relations, that exist between semantic types, e.g., treats, diagnoses, and contains. The scope of the Semantic Network is broad, allowing for the semantic categorization of a wide range of expressions in multiple domains. The SPECIALIST Lexicon supplies the word usage information needed for the SPECIALIST Natural Language Processing (NLP) System. The Lexicon is a general English language dictionary that includes many biomedical terms. Coverage includes both commonly occurring English words and biomedical vocabulary. The Lexicon entry for each word or term contains the syntactic...

Words: 296 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Language Paper

...Communication must be communicative, arbitrary, structured, generative and dynamic to be deemed language (Willingham, 2007). Although a baby’s cry is arbitrary, dynamic, and communicative, it’s not structured or generative. While it is a form of communication it is not a reasonable form of language. Along with cognitive functions and language assimilation we all need to have a mental dictionary, which contains all of the stored representations of words, this is called the lexicon. The Oxford English Dictionary defines lexicon (n.d) as “ the vocabulary of a person, language, or branch of knowledge” These lexical entries store the pronunciation, spelling, and part of speech for every word that has been assimilated. As humans we recognize words by comparing them to what we audio perceive them to be. So when a baby cries we compare the sounds that the baby makes to the stored lexicon and determine if the sound the baby is making constitutes language. Understanding language is more complicated than just its lexicon and definition, we also have to come to understand its key features, its four levels of structure and processing as well as its role in cognitive psychology. Key Features of Language...

Words: 1113 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Dc Sniper Comparison

...Midterm What are the similarities between the Boston Bombers and DC Snipers (if any). The Boston Bombers and the DC Snipers have very few similarities between them. These few similarities include what type of terrorists they were, how they picked their victims, and how they both felt deprived which is what lead them to terrorism. While these similarities are not exactly the same, one could argue that they are close enough to group these two terrorist attacks in the same category of terrorism. The Domestic Terrorism and Homegrown Violent Extremism Lexicon defines domestic terrorism as “Any act of violence that is dangerous to human life or potentially destructive of critical infrastructure or key resources committed by a group or individual...

Words: 1651 - Pages: 7

Free Essay

Language

...Language PSY 360 June 17, 2015 Melissa Jackson ------------------------------------------------- Language An intense association exists between cognitive abilities and language. Thought processes have the capability of altering communication methods; however, methods of communication can very easily do the same to an individual’s way of thinking. New ideas are communicated in which thought can be generated simply by thinking of the name of a certain stimulus. Language can be defined by several different key components. A reciprocated attempt at a considerate conversation between individuals can be anything from arbitrary to unsubstantial, yet likely to be configured and orderly through numerous manners in which general ideas are configured through the different parts of a language (Papafragou, Li, Choi, & Han 2007). In addition, language can also be dynamic and constantly developing, therefore leading to the conclusion that such an intricate topic, such as language, is challenging to undertake, especially in explaining in more depth how it works in its entirety through the key components toward a better understanding. The main purpose of the key features of language, including arbitrariness, communications, and dynamics, as well as generative and structured divergences, is to facilitate the comprehension and translation of language itself. Associating words to stimuli is unsystematic in its development and is groundless in an unconscious attempt to form...

Words: 1352 - Pages: 6