EMLex 17/18: assignments A3 (Klotz)

Important note: You will have to produce two assignments for this module! The first
assignment has been given to you by Stefania Nuccorini. For the second assignment see
below!

From the assignments below, chose one question! Write approximately two pages (Arial
11pt or Times 12pt; line spacing 1 ½). You can write in English or German. Hand in your
assignment by email to michael.klotz@fau.de by July 1st.

1. Explain Saussure's model of the linguistic sign. Use this notion to give a systematic
account of information types we might expect in a learner's dictionary and briefly
illustrate these information types.

2. Explain the model of the semiotic triangle! How does this model help us to
understand the notion of meaning? Look at five different definitions in the online-
version of one of the established English learner's dictionaries and discuss in how far
these definitions reflect the notion of meaning discussed before.

3. Explain the notion of categorization by prototype in semantics. Which consequence

does this model have for definitions in monolingual learner's dictionaries? Illustrate
this by examples. Include the notion of the basic level term in your discussion.

4. Explain the notions of homonymy and polysemy in semantics and give examples! To
what extent does this distinction play a role in the structure of English learner's
dictionaries? Which criteria can be used to subdivide the semantic spectrum of a
given lemma into separate meanings? Use examples to illustrate you points.

5. Produce a concordance of 40 lines of the lexeme meet (v.) from the BNC. Analyze
these lines in terms of different meanings of meet. Compare your results to the
meaning distinctions drawn in one of the established English learner's dictionaries.
(Attach the concordance to your assignment!)

6. Discuss the notion of valency in linguistics. How is valency information presented in

OALD3, OALD4/5 and OALD9?