Chapter 2. Methodology at work
-
Maria Kyuseva
Abstract
The chapter illustrates the frame-based methodology of lexical typological analysis through the comparison of the qualities sharp and blunt in 21 languages. We show that these qualities tend to be asymmetrical, with bluntness being negatively defined through sharpness. The two main oppositions found in the field are (1) the shape of a sharp object, and (2) the sense through which the quality is primarily experienced. The first opposition divides all objects into bladed (knives, etc.) and pointed (needles, etc.) ones; the second opposition contrasts touch with vision, and it further translates to the juxtaposition of function (sharp/blunt instruments, etc.) vs. shape (pointed/rounded features, etc.). We also find that these oppositions determine the semantic shifts developed by words denoting sharpness or bluntness and that the metaphoric patterns are consistent across languages.
Abstract
The chapter illustrates the frame-based methodology of lexical typological analysis through the comparison of the qualities sharp and blunt in 21 languages. We show that these qualities tend to be asymmetrical, with bluntness being negatively defined through sharpness. The two main oppositions found in the field are (1) the shape of a sharp object, and (2) the sense through which the quality is primarily experienced. The first opposition divides all objects into bladed (knives, etc.) and pointed (needles, etc.) ones; the second opposition contrasts touch with vision, and it further translates to the juxtaposition of function (sharp/blunt instruments, etc.) vs. shape (pointed/rounded features, etc.). We also find that these oppositions determine the semantic shifts developed by words denoting sharpness or bluntness and that the metaphoric patterns are consistent across languages.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Chapter 1. Introduction 1
- Chapter 2. Methodology at work 29
- Chapter 3. A matter of degree? 57
- Chapter 4. Quality as a two-place predicate 79
- Chapter 5. Typology of dimensions 117
- Chapter 6. The domain of surface texture 161
- Chapter 7. A new approach to old studies 189
- Chapter 8. Talking temperature with close relatives 215
- Chapter 9. Lexical typology of Mandarin Chinese qualitative features 269
- Chapter 10. The qualitative lexicon in Russian Sign Language from a typological perspective 289
- Chapter 11. Constructing a typological questionnaire with distributional semantic models 309
- Language index 329
- Subject index 333
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Chapter 1. Introduction 1
- Chapter 2. Methodology at work 29
- Chapter 3. A matter of degree? 57
- Chapter 4. Quality as a two-place predicate 79
- Chapter 5. Typology of dimensions 117
- Chapter 6. The domain of surface texture 161
- Chapter 7. A new approach to old studies 189
- Chapter 8. Talking temperature with close relatives 215
- Chapter 9. Lexical typology of Mandarin Chinese qualitative features 269
- Chapter 10. The qualitative lexicon in Russian Sign Language from a typological perspective 289
- Chapter 11. Constructing a typological questionnaire with distributional semantic models 309
- Language index 329
- Subject index 333
