Lexical function


A lexical function is a tool developed within Meaning-Text Theory for the description and systematization of semantic relationships, specifically collocations and lexical derivation, between particular lexical units of a language. LFs are also used in the construction of technical lexica and as abstract nodes in certain types of syntactic representation. Basically, an LF is a function ƒ representing a correspondence ƒ that associates a set ƒ of lexical expressions with an LU L; in f, L is the keyword of ƒ, and ƒ = is ƒ’s value. Detailed discussions of Lexical Functions are found in Žolkovskij & Mel’čuk 1967, Mel’čuk 1974, 1996, 1998, 2003, 2007, and Wanner 1996; analysis of the most frequent type of lexical functions—verb-noun collocations—can be found in Gelbukh & Kolesnikova 2013.

Standard Lexical Functions

Standard LFs form a proper subset of normal LFs. A normal LF ƒ is called Standard if and only if it satisfies both following conditions:
1. Broadness of the domain of ƒ: ƒ is defined for a relatively large number of keywords;

2. Diversity of the range of ƒ: ƒ has a relatively large number of expressions as elements of its possible values and these expressions are more or less equitably distributed between different keywords.
Normal LFs that do not satisfy both Conditions 1 and 2, on the one hand, and degenerate LFs, on the other, are called Non-Standard.
An example of a Non-Standard LF is the meaning ‘without addition of dairy product’. It has two expressions in English, a phraseological one—BLACK, and a free one—WITHOUT MILK. This meaning fails Condition 1: it is too specific and applicable only to one beverage. It thus corresponds to a Non-Standard LF.

Simple Standard LFs

1. Syn = synonym.

Syn = copter, chopper

Syn = phoneV
2. Anti = antonym.

3. Convijk = conversive.

Conv21 = belong

Conv231⊃ = reputation

Conv21 = in front of

Conv21 = follow
4. Gener = the closest generic concept for L.
Gener = state

Gener = substance

Gener = reprisals
5. Figur = standard received metaphor for L.
Figur = wall

Figur = curtain

Figur = pangs
6. S0 = Substantival, output N having a congruent meaning to L :
S0 = analysis
7. A0 = Adjectival, output A having a congruent meaning to L :
A0 = urban
8. V0 = Verbal, output V having a congruent meaning to L :
V0 = analyze
9. Adv0 = Adverbial, output Adv having a congruent meaning to L :
Adv0 = after
10. Si = standard name of the i-th actant of L.
S1 = teacher

S2 = subject/matter

S3 = pupil
S1 = author, sender

S2 = addressee

S3 = contents
11. Sinstr = standard name of the instrument used in the situation denoted by L.

Sinstr⊃ = firearm
Sinstr = murder weapon
12. Smed = standard name of the means used to bring about the situation denoted by L.

Smed⊃ = ammunition
13. Smod = standard name of the mode through which the situation denoted by L is realized.

Smod = approach
14. Sloc = standard name of the location where the situation denoted by L is realized.

Sloc = battlefield
Sloc = theater
15. Sres = standard name of the result of the situation denoted by L.
Sres⊃ = knowledge, skills
Sres⊃ = shockwave
Sres⊃ = copyN, reproduction
16. Ablei = determining property of the i-th potential DSyntA of L :
Able1 = tearful
Able1 = variable
Able2 = provable
Able2 = trustworthy
17. Quali = determining property of the i-th probable DSynt-actant of L :
Qual1 = sad
Qual1 = cheerful
Qual2 = implausible
Qual2 = awkward, absurd
18. Ai = determining property of the i-th DSyntA of L from the viewpoint of its role in the situation ‘L’.
A1 = in //angry
A1 = with
A2 = //under analysis
A2= //under the baton
19. Advi = the determining property of the action by the i-th DSyntA of L from the viewpoint of the role of the DSyntAi of L in the situation denoted by L.
Adv1 = with //angrily
Adv1 = //down
Adv2 = to
Adv2 = //under bombardment
20. Imper command’] = imperative expression meaning ‘do L!’
Imper = Fire!
Imper = Shhh!
Imper = Whoa!
21. Result result’] = ‘ be the expected result of L’:
Result = ownV
Result = be lying
Result = know , have the necessary skills
22. Centr =‘the center/culmination of L’
Centr = the thick
Centr = the height
Centr = summit
Centr = prime
23. Magn = ‘very’, ‘to a high degree’, ‘intense’:
Magn = stark
Magn = heartily; one’s head off
Magn = infinite
Magn = as a rake
24. Ver = ‘as it should be’, ‘meeting intended requirements’:
Ver = sincere, genuine, unfeigned
Ver = well-deserved, just
Ver = precise
Ver = steadily
25. Bon = ‘good’:
Bon = neatly, cleanly
Bon = tempting
Bon = first-class
Bon = invaluable
26. Locin = preposition governing L and designating a containing spatial location :
Locin = at
27. Locad = preposition governing L and designating an entering spatial relation :
Locad = to
28. Locab = preposition governing L and designating an exiting spatial relation :
Locab = from
29. Instr = preposition meaning ‘by means of L’:
Instr = on
Instr = via
Instr = by
Instr = with
30. Propt = preposition meaning ‘because of’/‘as a result of L’:
Propt = from, out of
Propt = out of
31. Operi do, carry out’] = a light verb used as part of the expression ‘realize/carry out L':
Oper1 = deal
Oper1 = lend
Oper2 = receive
Oper2 = receive
32. Funci function’]:
Func1 = comes
Func2 = falls
Func0 = falls
Func0 = is open
Func0 = are under way
Func0 = circulate
33. Laborij work, toil’]:
Labor12 = subject
Labor32 = grant
34. Incep = ‘begin’:
Incep = fall asleep
35. Cont = ‘continue’:
Cont = stay asleep
36. Fin = ‘cease’:
Fin = wake up
37. Caus ‘cause’

38. Perm =‘permit/allow’ ’

39. Liqu = ‘liquidate’

40. Reali
Real1 = prove
Real1 = drive
Real1 = succumb
Real2 = abide
Real2 = take
Real2 = meet
41. Fact0/i
42. Labrealijk
43. Involv drag along’] = verb meaning ‘ involve Y’, ‘ affect Y’
Involv = floods
Involv = catches , hits
44. Manif manifest’] = verb meaning ‘L manifests itself in Y’
Manif = nags
Manif = lights up
45. Degrad degrade’] = verb meaning ‘ degrade’ ≈ ‘ become permanently worse or bad’.
Degrad = goes sour
Degrad = goes off
Degrad = weakens
Degrad = becomes dilapidated
46. Son sound’] = verb meaning ‘ emit characteristic sound’.
Son = barks
Son = rumbles
Son = rustle
Son = howls

Complex LFs and Configurations of LFs

Simple LFs can be combined to form complex LFs:
AntiMagn = scattered
IncepOper1 = fall
Adv1Real1 = on
Certain expressions can simultaneously realize two LFs, resulting in a configuration of LFs:
' = be plagued
' = have a clean bill

LFs in the lexicon

Lexical Functions play an important part in the lexicon, which of necessity must include information about the collocational and derivational properties of LUs. In MTT, the LFs for L are included in the entry for L in the Explanatory Combinatorial Dictionary:
REVULSION

Definition

X’s revulsion for Y ≡ ‘X’s negative feeling about Y caused by X’s perception of Y, similar to what people normally experience when they perceive something that makes them sick and such that it causes that X wants to stop perceiving Y’.
Government Pattern
X = IY = I
1. N’s
2. Aposs
3. A		1. against N

2. at N

3. for N

4. toward N

1) CII.2 : N denotes something that can be seen or felt

2) CII.4 : N denotes people



John’s 〈his〉 revulsion against racism 〈against dismal results of his endeavors〉. John’s 〈his〉 revulsion at the sight of sea food; John’s 〈his〉 revulsion for work 〈for all those killings〉; John’s 〈his〉 revulsion for 〈= toward〉 these scoundrels 〈toward the government〉

Impossible:

John’s 〈his〉 revulsion *at these words

John’s 〈his〉 revulsion *towards these words
Lexical Functions

Examples
He did it from deep revulsion for the bitterness of the sectarian strife. Any revulsion they might feel from fat-ass bastards they ran up against professionally was ad hominem and not ad genus . Mary turned her head away in revulsion. I felt no revulsion for her maternal fantasies, only a practical concern. She met his advances with revulsion. Pam was driven to revulsion 〈*The sight of the dead animal drove Pam to revulsion〉. Revulsion at slaughter cut war short .