Principles of Lexical Typology
What does lexical typology study?
How different languages package meaning into words.
What does the lexicon of a language consist of?
Words and vocabularies as structured systems of form and meaning.
Which branch studies cross-linguistic word formation patterns?
Word-building typology.
What is lexicalization?
The encoding of a meaning into a single word
How is lexical typology commonly related to semantic typology?
It is often considered a sub-branch of semantic typology focusing on the lexicon.
Why is the lexicon described as a dynamic system?
Because words constantly emerge, change, or disappear.
Which branch focuses on comparing vocabularies across languages?
Comparative lexicology.
What does lexical typology study about lexical fields?
How languages divide and structure semantic domains
Why must lexical typology be treated as an independent branch of typology?
Because it studies lexical units, while semantic typology concerns all levels of language.
Why is lexical typology not restricted to lexical semantics only?
Because lexicology itself also interacts with morphology, phonology, and syntax.
Which branch investigates borrowed lexical material?
Lexical typology of borrowings.
What is meant by “basic vs. derived words” in lexical fields?
Core vocabulary items versus morphologically or semantically complex ones.
What central question does lexical typology ask about meaning?
How languages package semantic material into words.
What is meant by grammaticalization?
losing concreating meaning, meaning funtional features.
Which branch studies fixed expressions such as idioms?
Lexical typology of phraseology
Why are orally borrowed words short?
They undergo considerable changes in the act of adaption.
What does lexical acculturation refer to?
How lexicons adapt to new objects and concepts.
What is lexicalization?
becoming incorporrated into a language lexicon as a single word
Why is identifying what counts as a “word” typologically complex?
Because languages use different criteria for wordhood.
How does lexical typology approach semantic change?
As a diachronic process with cross-linguistically recurrent patterns