Journal of Northeastern University(Social Science) ›› 2016, Vol. 18 ›› Issue (2): 202-208.DOI: 10.15936/j.cnki.1008-3758.2016.02.015

• Linguistics and Literature • Previous Articles     Next Articles

On-line Dynamic Construal of Semantic IndeterminacyOn the Case of Polysemy

XU Kui-hua   

  1. (School of Foreign Languages,Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China)
  • Received:2015-07-30 Revised:2015-07-30 Online:2016-03-25 Published:2016-03-30
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Abstract: Natural language is characterized by semantic indeterminacy. Meaning is not a permanent characteristic of a word in the lexicon, with semantic indeterminacy being an essential feature of a language. However, people could transcend this indeterminacy to make successful communication in that semantics could be determined by on-line dynamic construal according to the usage-based view of cognitive semantics. The meaning could be construed on line, which involves fusion of purport, contextual modulation, semantic competition and human cognitive inference. Through such cognitive operations, meaning potentials of polysemy will be anchored and monosemy will emerge.

Key words: semantic indeterminacy, on-line dynamic construal, polysemy

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