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Article published In:
Functions of Language
Vol. 26:3 (2019) ► pp.308–342

The semantics of evaluational adjectives

Perspectives from Natural Semantic Metalanguage and Appraisal

 | Griffith University
 | Simon Fraser University
 | University of Belgrade
We apply the Natural Semantic Metalanguage (NSM) approach (Goddard & Wierzbicka 2014) to the lexical-semantic analysis of English evaluational adjectives and compare the results with the picture developed in the Appraisal Framework (Martin & White 2005). The analysis is corpus-assisted, with examples mainly drawn from film and book reviews, and supported by collocational and statistical information from WordBanks Online. We propose NSM explications for 15 evaluational adjectives, arguing that they fall into five groups, each of which corresponds to a distinct semantic template. The groups can be sketched as follows: “First-person thought-plus-affect”, e.g. wonderful; “Experiential”, e.g. entertaining; “Experiential with bodily reaction”, e.g. gripping; “Lasting impact”, e.g. memorable; “Cognitive evaluation”, e.g. complex, excellent. These groupings and semantic templates are compared with the classifications in the Appraisal Framework’s system of Appreciation. In addition, we are particularly interested in sentiment analysis, the automatic identification of evaluation and subjectivity in text. We discuss the relevance of the two frameworks for sentiment analysis and other language technology applications.
Article outline
  • 1.Background and goals
  • 2.Evaluational adjectives in the Appraisal Framework
  • 3.Explicating evaluational adjectives using NSM
    • 3.1Further details on the NSM approach: Semantic templates
    • 3.2Research process
    • 3.3Template A: “First-person thought-plus-feeling”
    • 3.4Templates B1 and B2: “Experiential” evaluation
    • 3.5Template B1, e.g. entertaining, delightful
      • Entertaining
      • Delightful
    • 3.6Template B2: e.g. gripping, exciting
      • Gripping
    • 3.7Template C: “lasting effect”, e.g. powerful, memorable
      • Powerful
      • Memorable
    • 3.8Template D: “Cognitive evaluation”, e.g. complex, excellent, impressive
      • Complex, e.g. a complex film, a complex argument, a complex character
      • Excellent, outstanding
      • Impressive, brilliant
  • 4.Comparing the NSM approach to evaluation and the Appraisal Framework
  • 5.Broader observations and implications
    • 5.1Implications for sentiment analysis and other language technology applications
    • 5.2Concluding remark
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 25 November 2019
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/fol.00029.god
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