This paper attempts to develop some relatively well-defined notions that may be of use in descriptive semantics and in some areas of cognitive psychology. These notions are intended as explications of certain terms widely used in these fields such as semantic dimension, semantic feature, semantic space, category, conjunctive category, and sememe.…

This paper discusses the type of marking rule normally used in the production and interpretation of message forms for which semantic marking is possible. The structure and use of such rules is illustrated through a recent study of the semantics of personal address among the Balangingi' Samal, a Muslim group of the southern Philippines. The rule…

A new theory of sign structure is proposed which explains the syntactic, semantic and pragmatic classification of signs. The theory comprises in part a language capable of relating studies of information processes across a range of disciplines, including communication science psychology, computer science, and linguistics. The power and utility of…

Discusses the estrangement between etymology and modern linguistics, and concludes that a reconciliation between spatio-temporal linguistics and etymology must occur, because without it, both disciplines are doomed to inanition. (Author/AM)

Examines the inhibition of recall of list items when extralist items are introduced, and describes experiments which suggest that this is an expression of a more general inhibition phenomenon. (Author/AM)

Seeks to formulate a definition of imperativity based on extralinguistic rather than formal notions. (TL)

Outlines basic goals, techniques, and materials for a college level course in Russian language stylistics. The use of literature readings, composition writing, stylistics levels of both spoken and written language, and synonym equivalence are discussed. (Text is in Russian.) (DH)

A model of natural language generation based on an underlying language-free representation of meaning is described. A computer implementation of this model, called BABEL, has been developed at Stanford University. It is able to produce sentence paraphrases which demonstrate understanding with respect to a given context. Available from Association…

Discusses the semantic function of visual aids in foreign language teaching. (Text is in French.) (AM)

Defines the causative construction semantically and describes various syntactic constructions that answer the definition. Intentional and unintentional causative constructions are distinguished. The semantic content of all intentional causative constructions is analyzed. (Author/RM)

Two models are considered for how people verify explicitly quantified sentences. To test the models, three reaction time experiments required subjects to verify statements quantified by some or all. The results show that some-statements took longer to verify than all-statements. (Author/DEP)

This article discusses various approaches to vocabulary selection for second language teaching. The criteria of availability, familiarity, coverage, and meaning are suggested as important in vocabulary selection. (AM)

In Mixtec there are six motion verbs that are active and function as main and auxiliary verbs and directional modifiers. There are four verbs of arrival and they function as main and auxiliary verbs. These are based on the same root and meaning. The author outlines the pattern of inflection and explains momentary verbs. (SC)

This paper proposes a matrix of notional categories for classifying grammatical structures. The use of the matrix is illustrated through question forms. Communicative competence in a language presupposes mastery of the grammatical system of that language. Therefore, in adopting a communicatively appropriate syllabus, containing varieties of…