Lexicology, Semantics and Lexicography (review)

This anthology contains some selected papers presented at the fourth G. L. Brook Symposium (Manchester University, UK, 21–26 August 1998). The ‘Brook memoir’ (a short biographical sketch of Prof. G. L. Brook) follows the single-page introduction by the editors of the volume.

Andreas Fischer (Ch. 1) nicely illustrates various types of lexical gaps, identifies the cognitive factors behind these gaps, and shows how they can be useful for the study of linguistic change. With reference to some examples from the history of English, Gabriella Rundblad and David B. Kronenfield (Ch. 2) carefully explore the process of formation and use of folk etymology in various linguistic contexts to estimate its relevance to a speech community.

Pivi Koivisto-Alanko (Ch. 3) systematically focuses on the mechanism of semantic change in nouns of cognition and uses semantic prototype theory to identify the signs of directionality towards increased subjectivity in semantic change. Christian J. Kay (Ch. 4) raises a pertinent and timely debate as to whether historical semantics and lexicography will ever meet in the study of lexical semantics and designs a field where both can benefit from their mutual ‘cross-fertilization’ and coreference.

Quite reasonably, Julie Coleman (Ch. 5) argues that both slang and cant dictionaries can make worthy contributions to linguistic theories, especially with regard to universal grammar and the origin of language. Mario Gotti (Ch. 6) methodically describes how Thomas Salusbury used various word-coining methods (choice of lexical items, selection of appropriate lexical equivalents, formation of new terminology) while translating Galileo’s scientific works, which contributed to the overall lexical growth of English.

C. P. Biggam (Ch. 7) brilliantly describes the change of meaning of some Old English words and terms related to architecture and building construction. Analyzing some examples from Early Modern and present-day English, Heli Tissari (Ch. 8) describes how the prototype concept of ‘love’ has changed in sense and implication in some domains, defined by certain sociodemographic variables.

Louise Sylvester (Ch. 9) critically examines definition, ordering of senses, and use of examples of consent in some major English dictionaries to identify the ways in which that word has developed as well as the possibility of its lexical expression in Mediaeval English. Citing evidence from a historical English corpus, Claire Cowie (Ch. 10) shows how certain extralinguistic and contextual factors (e.g. pragmatic, functional, stylistic) are responsible for morphological productivity in a language.

R. W. McConchie (Ch. 11) also uses large corpora, dictionaries, and concordances to determine differences of use of the English negative prefix dis- across time and type of data. Finally, Christian Kay briefly reports on the revised Oxford English dictionary and English historical lexicography.

In general, the volume focuses on three important issues in lexical study: (1) the impact of prototype theory on semantics, (2) the cognitive approach to lexico-semantics, and (3) the effect of empirical resources on semantics and lexicography. Rich with information, analysis, and introspection, the volume indicates a promising growth of the field with regular input from other related disciplines.