Lexical Semantics by D A Cruse

Lexical Semantics by D A Cruse

Lexical Semantics is about the meaning of words. Although obviously a central concern of linguistics, the semantic behaviour of words has been unduly neglected in the current literature, which has tended to emphasize sentential semantics and its relation to formal systems of logic. In this textbook D. A. Cruse establishes in a principled and disciplined way the descriptive and generalizable facts about lexical relations that any formal theory of semantics will have to encompass. Among the topics covered in depth are idiomaticity, lexical ambiguity, synonymy, hierarchical relations such as hyponymy and meronymy, and various types of oppositeness. Syntagmatic relations are also treated in some detail. The discussions are richly illustrated by examples drawn almost entirely from English. Although a familiarity with traditional grammar is assumed, readers with no technical linguistic background will find the exposition always accessible. All readers with an interest in semantics will find in this original text not only essential background but a stimulating new perspective on the field.

Alan Cruse is Senior Lecturer in Linguistics at Manchester University. He has held previous posts as a teacher of English in Cyprus and Iraq, and as a teacher of linguistics in Jamaica.

Consulting Editor, Cognitive Linguistics

Consulting Editor, Lexicology

Member of Advisory Board for ELT Dictionaries, OUP

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780521276436
ISBN 10	0521276438
Title	Lexical Semantics
Author	D A Cruse
Series	Cambridge Textbooks In Linguistics
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Cambridge University Press
Year published	1986-09-18
Number of pages	328
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.