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Theory and Practice in Functional-Cognitive Space
Edited by María de los Ángeles Gómez González, Francisco José Ruiz de Mendoza Ibáñez and Francisco Gonzálvez-García
[Studies in Functional and Structural Linguistics 68] 2014
► pp. 53–84

The cultural classification of ‘things’

A system network for English noun senses

We begin by distinguishing between an ontology and a semantic system networkfor noun senses. i.e. a cultural classification of ‘things’. Next, we locate this ina systemic functional lexicogrammar, and evaluate two ways of representingit. Then we explore: (i) the reason for its overall structure; (ii) the central roleof probabilities; (iii) how to model the [mass] v [count] distinction (and twoothers; (iv) two crucial non-taxonomic relationships; (v) three types of non-experientialmeaning; and (vi) the key role of realization rules in generatingnouns as heads of nominal groups. With nearly 5,000 noun senses, the CardiffGrammar’s network for the cultural classification of “things” is probably thelargest in existence. Yet it needs further development, and readers are invitedboth to use this valuable resource and to help expand it.

Keywords: cultural classification of ‘things’, modelling lexis, noun senses, ontology, probabilities in lexis, semantic system network
Published online: 22 July 2014
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/sfsl.68.03faw
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