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Lexical Field Theory

The document discusses the Lexical Field Theory introduced by Jost Trier in 1931. Trier defined a lexical field as words that are semantically related, with their meanings delimiting one another. He argued that the meaning of a word can only be fully understood in relation to other words in its semantic field. If a word undergoes semantic change, it alters the meanings of other words in that field. Trier emphasized that words should be analyzed based on their relationships within a semantic field, not in isolation. The Lexical Field Theory suggests that fields form closed sets with no overlaps or gaps between lexemes.

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1K views

Lexical Field Theory

The document discusses the Lexical Field Theory introduced by Jost Trier in 1931. Trier defined a lexical field as words that are semantically related, with their meanings delimiting one another. He argued that the meaning of a word can only be fully understood in relation to other words in its semantic field. If a word undergoes semantic change, it alters the meanings of other words in that field. Trier emphasized that words should be analyzed based on their relationships within a semantic field, not in isolation. The Lexical Field Theory suggests that fields form closed sets with no overlaps or gaps between lexemes.

Uploaded by

farah zaheer
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Introduction

To properly understand what the Lexical Field Theory is we have to first understand the concept
of a Lexical Field. A Lexical Field consists of words, their shapes, construction and forms. The
relation of words based on similar formations within words creates a lexical web that ideally
share linguistic origins, this formulates the basis on why such lexemes are put together if they
share structure and form. This bases the argument that words are grouped similarly due to their
cultural and geographical origins, essentially forming the Lexical Field Theory.

Lexical Field Theory

Using research done in historical semantics, Jost Trier (1931) introduced the term Lexical Field,
defining it as words that are related on the semantic level whose meanings delimit one another.
Essentially stating that the meaning of a word can only be fully determined in contrast with other
words within the semantic field it stand in, using a diachronic approach this meant that change of
meaning to a specific word within a lexical field would cause change to the meanings of other
words within that field as well. Trier stated that members within a lexical field encompass
wholly conceptual and/or objective domains without any overlaps resulting in the delimitation of
the boundaries within a lexical field.

Trier emphasized that mutual demarcations of words would lead to decisive answers regarding
their exact values, words should not be looked at in a singular capacity rather should be judged
by their relationship to other semantically related words as according to Trier words acquire their
meaning through the relationships they share with other words within the field. The sense of one
word narrows the sense or meaning of the other words, as the words within a field fit together
forming a mosaic. If one word undergoes a semantic change, it alters the whole of the lexical
field. Trier’s theory suggests that lexical fields are easily definable closed sets, with no
overlapping or gaps, as previously mentioned. The theory in essence has been modified and
questioned since its first formation.

The theory of semantic field assumes that lexemes are semantically related, Paradigmatically
and/or Syntagmatically within a language system belonging to a semantic field. By classifying
items of a language into sets allows for the field to be divided in various ways, such as the field
of “transfer of possession” would include lexemes such as “sell, buy, trade, barter, lend, rent.”
Ferdinand De Saussure’s concept of language is paramount to the theory itself, that words in a
language are linked by associations. By explaining lexicon within a language as a system of
interrelated networks, thus interrelated words may belong to one semantic field, such as tree,
branch, root, flower, fruit and stem. This results in the creation of collocations, as items which
correlate are selected from the same field. For example, mouse with computer and car with tire.

Trier’s Lexical Field Theory heavily utilizes sense relations, as lexical items contrast one
another, this contrast helps to define meaning of items. These relations take the form in
Syntagmatic form, i.e. syntagms. Although Trier’s own field uses Paradigmatic relations more.
Such as hyponymy, synonymy and antonymy.

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