Meaning potentials and the interaction between lexis and contexts

Abstract

This article is a contribution to a theory of lexical semantics and situated sense-making which aims at explaining how meaning is constituted in and across contexts, in a dialogical interplay between lexical resources and aspects of situations.We propose that the semantics of words or grammatical constructions are not just abstract schemas, to be filled in by pragmatic enrichment in situated uses. Furthermore, words are not associated with simple lists of different usages. Instead, we propose a theory of meaning potentials. The basic assumptions of such a theory are that linguistic resources provide language users with semantic resources to understand, say and mean specific things in particular usage events, and that this always involves an interplay with contextual factors.The study reported here is an exercise in empirical pragmatics, using authentic data from language use. We explore the meaning potential of the Swedish adjective ny 'new' by examining its interplay with a specific grammatical construction, x-och-x ('x-and-x': in English roughly 'x, it depends on what you mean by x'). X-och-x is a conventionalised and (largely) conversational practice, by which language users activate and negotiate parts of the meaning potential of a word x, such as ny, in order to establish a local situated meaning of it. In doing so, they exploit their knowledge of what x can mean, performing what can be seen as users´ semantic analyses in authentic communicative interaction.Our study can also be read as a contribution to Construction Grammar, attempting to develop a more dynamic, interactional interpretation of this theory than has previously been put forward in the literature.

Seizure, Fit or Attack? The Use of Diagnostic Labels by Patients with Epileptic or Non-epileptic Seizures

“…It is widely acknowledged that while lexical choice plays a crucial role in human verbal interaction (Hakulinen and Selting 2005), establishing the meaning of alternative lexical items is far from straightforward, especially if contextual factors are taken into account (Fischer 1998, Xiao and McEnery 2006, Norén and Linell 2007. In this paper we explore the function of lexical choice and the meanings of a number of related lexical items in the context of a specific type of medical interaction.…”

Constructions vs. lexical items as sources of complex meanings

“…What is more, the same spectrum of uu'iining for verstehen is also present in other constructions. These findings • nrmboratc (lie view that the semantic similarities ofboth constructions rely "ii ;i shared Icxicosemantic meaning potential (see Noren and Linell 2007; I mdl . '009: ( :h, I 5) < > l rers/ehen, which seems to operate m ore o r less indepen dently of the specific construction.…”

Ordklassepotentiale

“…Man har laenge vidst at ord og leksemer ikke nødvendigvis har én, afgraenset betydning, men at deres betydning er langt mere amorf. Denne erkendelse er udgangspunktet for teorierne om betydningspotentiale og situeret betydning (se fx Hanks 1988;Togeby 2003;Norén & Linell 2007).…”

“…Den ene er teorierne om betydningspotentiale og situeret betydning (se fx Togeby 2003: 225-229;Norén & Linell 2007). Den anden er mange års praktisk analytisk arbejde med vanskeligt kategoriserbare ord som altså, dog, selv og sådan.…”