Continuity in Linguistic Semantics
Editors
Until recently, most linguistic theories as well as theories of cognition have avoided use of the notion of continuity. At the moment, however, several linguistic trends, sharing a preoccupation with semantico-cognitive problems (e.g. cognitive grammars, 'psychomechanics', 'enunciative theories'), are trying to go beyond the constraints imposed by discrete approaches. At the same time, mathematical (e.g. differential geometry and dynamical systems) and computer science tools (e.g. connectionism) have been proposed that can be used for modelling of continuous linguistic phenomena.
In this volume, linguists, philosophers, mathematicians and computer scientists discuss which semantic phenomena (linked to the lexicon, to grammatical theories or to syntactic structures) call for continuous models and which formalisation tools can contribute to the development of such models. The first part of the book is devoted to linguistic issues, the second part deals with modelling issues.
Many important questions are raised in the discussion, for instance: Is continuity just a convenient representation of gradual yet discrete facts, or is it an intrinsic characteristic of semantic phenomena? How can the introduction of continuity be reconciled with a methodology based on the falsifiability of theories? What is the link between continuity and Gestalt theory? Can linguistic continuity be accounted for by mathematical models? What about statistical models? How can continuity be implemented on a digital and therefore discrete machine?
[Lingvisticæ Investigationes Supplementa, 19] 1994. iv, 255 pp.
Publishing status: Available
© John Benjamins Publishing Company
Table of Contents
Preface
|
3
|
I. Linguistic Issues
|
|
9
|
|
21
|
|
33
|
|
45
|
|
57
|
|
77
|
|
93
|
|
II. Modelling Issues
|
|
111
|
|
127
|
|
155
|
|
167
|
|
189
|
|
205
|
|
231
|
|
241
|
Cited by
Cited by 5 other publications
Bosch, Sonja E. & D. J. Prinsloo
Col, Gilles, Rossana De Angelis & Thierry Poibeau
Hendrikse, A. P.
Hendrikse, A. P.
Tissari, Heli
This list is based on CrossRef data as of 10 april 2021. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.
Subjects
BIC Subject: CF – Linguistics
BISAC Subject: LAN009000 – LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES / Linguistics / General