On defining the category MONSTER – using definitional features, narrative categories and Idealized Cognitive Models (ICM’s)

By November 17, 2016,
Page 1411-1427
Author Piet Swanepoel
Title On defining the category MONSTER – using definitional features, narrative categories and Idealized Cognitive Models (ICM’s)
Abstract This paper explores how the coherence between a lexical item which denotes a category and the lexical items that refer to individual members of the category can be expressed in explanatory dictionaries. A detailed analysis is provided of the relationship between the lexical item monster (which refers to a category) and the lexical items that refer to individual members of this category (e.g., Cyclops, dragon, mermaid, vampire, werewolf, Dracula, and zombie). More specifically, the goal of the paper is to determine whether the semantic explanation(s) for monster could function as a dictionary internal (as opposed to Fillmore’s (2003) external) cognitive frame for the other lexical items in the monster set. If not, the question is whether and how the field of monsterology could assist one in designing such a frame and what the content, structure and function of such a frame would be.
In Section 2.1 the focus falls on current lexicographic practices and problems in defining the category monster and its members. The dictionary entries for monster and those of a number of its members in a selection of English explanatory dictionaries are surveyed to determine what cognitive models of the category monster underlie these definitions. In Section 2.2 the focus falls on the definitional features, ICM’S and narrative structures used to define the category of the monster in the field of monsterology and on the numerous meanings monsters may have as symbolic expressions (metaphors in particular). Section 3 shortly summarizes the contribution monsterology could make towards the definition of a monster frame.
Session Lexicological Issues of Lexicographical Relevance
Keywords
BibTex 
@InProceedings{ELX10-140,
	   author = {Piet, Swanepoel},
	   title = {On defining the category MONSTER – using definitional features, narrative categories and Idealized Cognitive Models (ICM’s)},
	   pages = {1411-1427},
	   booktitle = {Proceedings of the 14th EURALEX International Congress},
	   year = {2010},
	   month = {jul},
	   date = {6-10},
	   address = {Leeuwarden/Ljouwert, The Netherlands},
	   editor = {Anne Dykstra and Tanneke Schoonheim},
	   publisher = {Fryske Akademy},
	   isbn = {978-90-6273-850-3},
	}
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