Words and Other Wonders: Papers on Lexical and Semantic Topics (Cognitive Linguistics Research [CLR], 33)

Cognitive Linguistics has given a major impetus to the study of semantics and the lexicon. The present volume brings together seventeen previously published papers that testify to the fruitfulness of Cognitive Linguistics for the study of lexical and semantic topics. Spanning the period from the late 1980s to recent years, the collection features a number of papers that may be considered classics within the field of cognitive linguistic lexicology. The papers are grouped in thematic sections. The first section deals with prototypicality as a theoretical and practical model of semantic description. The second section discusses polysemy and criteria for distinguishing between meanings. The third section tackles questions of meaning description beyond the level of words, on the level of idioms and constructions. The following section casts the net even wider, dealing with the cultural aspects of meaning. Moving away from the theoretical and descriptive perspective towards applied concerns, the fifth section looks at lexicography from the point of view of Cognitive Linguistics. The final section has a metatheoretical orientation: it discusses the history and methodology of lexical semantics. Each paper is preceded by a newly written introduction that situates the text against the period in which it was first published, but that also points to further developments, in the author's own research or in Cognitive Linguistics at large. The variety of topics dealt with make this book an excellent introduction to the broad field of lexicological and lexical semantic research. Frontmatter 2 Table of contents 8 Publication sources 10 Section 1. Prototypicality and salience 12 Chapter 1. Prospects and problems of prototype theory 14 Chapter 2. Where does prototypicality come from? 38 Chapter 3. The semantic structure of Dutch over 59 Chapter 4. Salience phenomena in the lexicon. A typology 85 Section 2. Polysemy 108 Chapter 5. Vagueness's puzzles, polysemy's vagaries 110 Chapter 6. Classical definability and the monosemic bias 160 Section 3. Constructions and idioms 184 Chapter 7. The semantic structure of the indirect object in Dutch 186 Chapter 8. The interaction of metaphor and metonymy in composite expressions 209 Section 4. Meaning and culture 236 Chapter 9. Looking back at anger. Cultural traditions and metaphorical patterns 238 Chapter 10. Beer and semantics 263 Chapter 11. Cultural models of linguistic standardization 283 Chapter 12. Caught in a web of irony: Job and his embarassed God 318 Section 5. Lexicography 336 Chapter 13. The lexicographical treatment of prototypical polysemy 338 Chapter 14. The definitional practice of dictionaries and the cognitive semantic conception of polysemy 356 Section 6. Theory and method in lexical semantics 376 Chapter 15. Cognitive grammar and the history of lexical semantics 378 Chapter 16. The theoretical and descriptive development of lexical semantics 409 Chapter 17. Idealist and empiricist tendencies in cognitive semantics 427 References 456 Index of names 490 Index of subjects 496 Prospects And Problems Of Prototype Theory -- Where Does Prototypicality Come From? -- The Semantic Structure Of Dutch Over -- Salience Phenomena In The Lexicon: A Typology -- Vagueness's Puzzles, Polysemy's Vagaries -- Classical Definability And The Monosemic Bias -- The Semantic Structure Of The Indirect Object In Dutch -- The Interaction Of Metaphor And Metonymy In Composite Expres-sions -- Looking Back At Anger: Cultural Traditions And Metaphorical Patterns -- Beer And Semantics -- Cultural Models Of Linguistic Standardization -- Caught In A Web Of Irony: Job And His Embarassed God -- The Lexicographical Treatment Of Prototypical Polysemy -- The Definitional Practice Of Dictionaries And The Cognitive Semantic Conception Of Polysemy -- Cognitive Grammar And The History Of Lexical Semantics -- The Theoretical And Descriptive Development Of Lexical Semantics -- Idealist And Empiricist Tendencies In Cognitive Linguistics. By Dirk Geeraerts. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [445]-478) And Indexes. The volume brings together seventeen previously published articles on lexical and semantic topics by one of the most influential authors in cognitive linguistic lexicology. Spanning the period from the late 1980s to recent years, the collection features a number of papers that may be considered classics. The book serves as an excellent introduction to the field. Key Excellent introduction to the field Includes papers from the late 1980s to recent years that may be considered as classics Review text: "Many other scholars in linguistics can find plenty of food for thought in this stimulating book. ... Linguists have a lot to gain and little to lose by reading this book, especially if they never read these articles by Geeraerts when they were first published."Craig Hamilton in: Lexis 3/2007