Coding semantic categories cross-linguistically - a challenge for typological research

  • Christiane von Stutterheim (Author)

Identifiers (Article)

Abstract

The goal of the paper is to provide a guide for dealing with challenges which occur when dealing with multilingual data at the semantic level. Three dilemmas are pointed out which relate a) to decisions on the size of coding units, b) to the integration of parts of meaning deduced from inference and c) to the diversity of theoretical categories used for describing semantic concepts. Problems and possible solutions are illustrated by looking at two semantic domains: space and time. Recent cross-linguistic studies on spatial and temporal categories are taken as examples for suggesting a four step model for multilingual coding.

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von Stutterheim, C., Gerwien, J., Bouhaous, A., Carroll, M., & Lambert, M. (2020). What makes up a reportable event in a language? motion events as an important test domain in linguistic typology. Linguistics, 58.

Published
2021-07-23
Language
English
Academic discipline and sub-disciplines
Linguistics, Humanities
Type, method or approach
Text
Keywords
cross-linguistic research, semantic categories, motion event, coding linguistic units, language production