Family resemblances and the structure of spatial relationships

This article investigates the strength and the shortcomings of the notion of family resemblance features in the description of the linguistic representation of spatial relationships. The relationship bearer/burden (B/b) conveyed in French by x est sur y and the relationship of suspension (S) conveye...

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Main Author: Claude Vandeloise
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cercle linguistique du Centre et de l'Ouest - CerLICO
Series:Corela
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.openedition.org/corela/514
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author Claude Vandeloise
author_facet Claude Vandeloise
author_sort Claude Vandeloise
collection DOAJ
description This article investigates the strength and the shortcomings of the notion of family resemblance features in the description of the linguistic representation of spatial relationships. The relationship bearer/burden (B/b) conveyed in French by x est sur y and the relationship of suspension (S) conveyed by x pend à y are taken as examples. The relationships B/b and S will be described by traits or values determining how the bearer support the burden (dimension W); the type of contact between the bearer and the burden (dimension C); and the relative positions of the bearer and the burden in the vertical axis (dimension H). Each situation in the world described by x est sur y or x pend à y may be represented by a combinations of three values in dimensions W, C and H. I call the sets of these combinations the family resemblance B/b and the family resemblance S. According to a first interpretation of these family resemblances, the sets of combinations of family resemblances B/b and S might be delineated by considering their values in isolation, independently of the global situations they characterize. In order to reach this goal, probabilistic approaches attribute individual category validity to values. If this analytical interpretation of family resemblances were true, family resemblances might be considered as the last shelter for the semantic features of structuralist linguistics. This article demonstrates the shortcomings of the analytical interpretation of family resemblances: even though, linguistically, they allow for an exhaustive description of the expressions être sur and pendre à , it is unlikely that, psychologically, categories B/b and S cannot be completely delimitated by an additive summation of the values in family resemblances B/b and S. According to a second interpretation of family resemblances B/b and S, speakers pay attention to the overall similarity of situations. In this global interpretation of family resemblances, values are treated in a non-independent way. This knowledge is solidly anchored in the experience of the world.
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spelling doaj.art-e9ffd732a26f4025a239dae60721c8d62024-02-13T13:52:43ZengCercle linguistique du Centre et de l'Ouest - CerLICOCorela1638-573X3210.4000/corela.514Family resemblances and the structure of spatial relationshipsClaude VandeloiseThis article investigates the strength and the shortcomings of the notion of family resemblance features in the description of the linguistic representation of spatial relationships. The relationship bearer/burden (B/b) conveyed in French by x est sur y and the relationship of suspension (S) conveyed by x pend à y are taken as examples. The relationships B/b and S will be described by traits or values determining how the bearer support the burden (dimension W); the type of contact between the bearer and the burden (dimension C); and the relative positions of the bearer and the burden in the vertical axis (dimension H). Each situation in the world described by x est sur y or x pend à y may be represented by a combinations of three values in dimensions W, C and H. I call the sets of these combinations the family resemblance B/b and the family resemblance S. According to a first interpretation of these family resemblances, the sets of combinations of family resemblances B/b and S might be delineated by considering their values in isolation, independently of the global situations they characterize. In order to reach this goal, probabilistic approaches attribute individual category validity to values. If this analytical interpretation of family resemblances were true, family resemblances might be considered as the last shelter for the semantic features of structuralist linguistics. This article demonstrates the shortcomings of the analytical interpretation of family resemblances: even though, linguistically, they allow for an exhaustive description of the expressions être sur and pendre à , it is unlikely that, psychologically, categories B/b and S cannot be completely delimitated by an additive summation of the values in family resemblances B/b and S. According to a second interpretation of family resemblances B/b and S, speakers pay attention to the overall similarity of situations. In this global interpretation of family resemblances, values are treated in a non-independent way. This knowledge is solidly anchored in the experience of the world.https://journals.openedition.org/corela/514category validitydimensionfamily resemblanceindex of representativitysemantic featuretrait
spellingShingle Claude Vandeloise
Family resemblances and the structure of spatial relationships
Corela
category validity
dimension
family resemblance
index of representativity
semantic feature
trait
title Family resemblances and the structure of spatial relationships
title_full Family resemblances and the structure of spatial relationships
title_fullStr Family resemblances and the structure of spatial relationships
title_full_unstemmed Family resemblances and the structure of spatial relationships
title_short Family resemblances and the structure of spatial relationships
title_sort family resemblances and the structure of spatial relationships
topic category validity
dimension
family resemblance
index of representativity
semantic feature
trait
url https://journals.openedition.org/corela/514
work_keys_str_mv AT claudevandeloise familyresemblancesandthestructureofspatialrelationships