Semantic maps and the typology of colexification: Intertwining polysemous networks across languages

Abstract

Building upon the model of Semantic Maps (Haspelmath 2003), which typologists have designed mainly for grammatical semantics, this chapter discusses methodological issues for a model in lexical typology. By breaking up polysemous lexemes of various languages into their semantic 'atoms' or senses, one defines an etic grid against which cross-linguistic comparison can be undertaken. Languages differ as to which senses they colexify, i.e., lexify identically. But while each polysemous lexeme as a whole is language-specific, individual pairings of colexified senses can be compared across languages. Our model, understood as an empirical, atomistic approach to lexical typology, is finally exemplified with the rich polysemies associated with the notion "BREATHE". Intertwined together, they compose a single, universal network of potential semantic extensions. Semantic maps and the Typology of Colexification Intertwining polysemous networks across languagesAlexandre FRANÇOIS LACITO-CNRS, Paris 1 General issues of lexical typology 1 At first sight, the capacity of the human brain to detect analogies in one's environment is infinite, and should logically result in lexical polysemy having no limits. And indeed, the more languages we explore, the more examples we find of unique metaphors and unexpected cases of semantic shift -probably one of the most thrilling mysteries and charms of language discovery. But what generally happens is that we focus our attention on the most exotic cases, and overlook the information that is of most interest for the hunter of semantic universals: namely, that a great deal of lexical polysemies are in fact widespread across the world's languages, and, as such, deserve to be highlighted and analyzed.This observation meets the agenda of lexical typology. Indeed, one of the mainstays of typological linguistics is precisely to show that cross-linguistic variation, far from being random and infinite, can in fact be reduced to a limited range of possible cases. And it is the purpose of this whole volume to show that the search for universals and typological tendencies, which has already proven fruitful in phonological or grammatical studies, may perfectly apply to the study of the lexicon too, provided the specific methodological issues it raises are properly addressed.Generally speaking, one central issue raised by linguistic typology is the necessity to ascertain the comparability of languages. Languages can only be contrasted with accuracy provided a standard of comparison is proposed, defining the common ground against which commonalities and differences can Semantic maps and the typology of colexification be observed across languages. Studies in grammatical typology have already begun to identify some of the relevant criteria for the comparison of grammar systems. They consist in the many functional features that emerge out of the observation of actual categories in natural languages: such notions as number, animacy, deixis, telicity, agentivity…, form a solid functional basis for the...

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