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The Generative Lexicon (1991)
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| Venue: | Computational Linguistics |
| Citations: | 1340 - 45 self |
BibTeX
@ARTICLE{Pustejovsky91thegenerative,
author = {James Pustejovsky},
title = {The Generative Lexicon},
journal = {Computational Linguistics},
year = {1991},
volume = {17}
}
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Abstract
this paper, I will discuss four major topics relating to current research in lexical semantics: methodology, descriptive coverage, adequacy of the representation, and the computational usefulness of representations. In addressing these issues, I will discuss what I think are some of the central problems facing the lexical semantics community, and suggest ways of best approaching these issues. Then, I will provide a method for the decomposition of lexical categories and outline a theory of lexical semantics embodying a notion of cocompositionality and type coercion, as well as several levels of semantic description, where the semantic load is spread more evenly throughout the lexicon. I argue that lexical decomposition is possible if it is performed generatively. Rather than assuming a fixed set of primitives, I will assume a fixed number of generative devices that can be seen as constructing semantic expressions. I develop a theory of Qualia Structure, a representation language for lexical items, which renders much lexical ambiguity in the lexicon unnecessary, while still explaining the systematic polysemy that words carry. Finally, I discuss how individual lexical structures can be integrated into the larger lexical knowledge base through a theory of lexical inheritance. This provides us with the necessary principles of global organization for the lexicon, enabling us to fully integrate our natural language lexicon into a conceptual whole
Keyphrases
generative lexicon lexical semantics qualia structure natural language lexicon fixed set semantic load type coercion descriptive coverage semantic expression lexical ambiguity lexical semantics community individual lexical structure generative device current research lexical inheritance fixed number central problem conceptual whole lexical knowledge base computational usefulness several level lexical item representation language global organization necessary principle systematic polysemy lexical decomposition semantic description lexical category major topic
