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International Journal of Lexicography Advance Access originally published online on August 12, 2008
International Journal of Lexicography 2008 21(3):337-355; doi:10.1093/ijl/ecn023
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© 2008 Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

This article appears in the following International Journal of Lexicography issue: Special Issue: The Legacy of John Sinclair [View the issue table of contents]

Between Chaos and Structure: Interpreting Lexical Data Through a Theoretical Lens

James Pustejovsky and Anna Rumshisky

Dept. of Computer Science, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA USA (jamesp{at}cs.brandeis.edu, arum{at}cs.brandeis.edu)


  Abstract

In this paper, we explore the inherent tension between corpus data and linguistic theory that aims to model it, with particular reference to the dynamic and variable nature of the lexicon. We explore the process through which modeling of the data is accomplished, presenting itself as a sequence of conflicting stages of discovery. First-stage data analysis informs the model, whereas the seeming chaos of organic data inevitably violates our theoretical assumptions. But in the end, it is restrictions apparent in the data that call for postulating structure within a revised theoretical model. We show the complete cycle using two case studies and discuss the implications.


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 Int J LexicographyHome page
G.-M. de Schryver
Patrick Hanks (ed.). Lexicology: Critical Concepts.
Int J Lexicography, December 1, 2008; 21(4): 419 - 438.
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