Chapter 4 :Linguistic theories of lexical meaning

Authors : C. Soriano

Abstract : This chapter provides a framework for the GRID study within the field of emotion lexical semantics. It is divided in two sections devoted to theories and methodologies, respectively. In the first one, we overview three main areas of concern in lexical semantics and how they have been addressed by modern theories of lexical meaning. This allows us to point out the advantages and disadvantages of each theoretical stance for the study of emotion, as well as to identify which one lends itself better to interdisciplinary research. Research within each tradition is illustrated with studies on emotion words. In the second section we overview and illustrate four of the most productive methodologies currently employed in emotion semantics. This is important to identify in what sense and to what extent the GRID methodology can complement already existing approaches to the study of emotion words.

Keywords : Emotion lexical semantics semasiology onomasiology NSM conceptual metaphor frame semantics prototype semantics corpus semantics