APPROACHES THE WORD MEANING

APPROACHES THE WORD MEANING

1. The referential theory

   • The referential theory of word meaning assumes that lexemes mean what they refer
     • as referents
       • Proper names
         • E.g. the name Buckingham Palace
       • Common nouns
         • E.g. Boy
     • as referring
       • individual objects, verbs
         • e.g. eat
       • actions, adjectives
         • e.g. big
       • properties of individuals, and adverbs
         • e.g. happily

2. The conceptual theory

   • The other approach is the conceptual theory of word meaning, which is based on the concepts with which lexemes are associated.
     • lexeme means is the sum of the most essential features
     • Breaking up the meaning of a lexeme
       • componential analysis
     • has its problems
       • a large number of lexemes are not associated with concepts at all
         • function words
           • e.g. if, very, why, and, etc.