Psycholinguistics: The Basics of Lexical Retrieval 1.1

Denotation gives the true essence of the meaning of a word.

Denotation gives the true essence of the meaning of a word.

Semantic properties contribute to anomaly in that when they do not refer to an entity in the universe (thus a lack of semantic properties) there can be no meaning.

Semantic properties contribute to ambiguity since ambiguity is caused when a word could bear one set of semantic features, or another. For example, the word 'pitch' could mean throw a ball, or set up (a tent).

Although this response is obvious, semantic properties also contribute to ambiguity and anomaly.

The average high school student knows approximately 60,000 words.

The average high school student knows approximately 60,000 words.

The first stage in lexical retrieval is conceptual and includes accessing semantic properties, a visual image, and syntactic properties (grammatical function).

The first stage in lexical retrieval is conceptual and includes accessing semantic properties, a visual image, and syntactic properties (grammatical function). Phonological properties are not accessed at the point that a word form is needed to express the initial concept.

The semantic features of the word 'tomato' overlap with 'vegetable'. Rosch and Mervis (1975) found evidence that prototypes share more features with items of the same category while minimizing feature overlap with related categories. For example, 'apple' does not bear any features of a vegetable thus would be recalled more quickly as an example of a fruit.

The semantic features of the word 'tomato' overlap with 'vegetable'. Rosch and Mervis (1975) found evidence that prototypes share more features with items of the same category while minimizing feature overlap with related categories. For example, 'apple' does not bear any features of a vegetable thus would be recalled more quickly as an example of a fruit. The number of syllables does not affect retrieval when accessing words based on semantic features.

Abstract words' meanings are based on experiences of the speaker.  They are not experienced with the five senses as are concrete words.  They are composed of semantic features and linked to referents in the world.

Abstract words' meanings are based on experiences of the speaker.  They are not experienced with the five senses as are concrete words.  They are composed of semantic features and linked to referents in the world.

Although words do bear syntactic properties, they are not composed of syntactic features, but rather of semantic properties.

Although words do bear syntactic properties, they are not composed of syntactic features, but rather of semantic properties.

Retrieval of a prototype of a word is generally faster than non-prototypes since they are learned first and represent their category of words more commonly. For example, 'apple' is a prototype of the category fruit more so than kiwi. Words that are used more often to represent their category are retrieved more quickly than those that are less frequently used.

Retrieval of a prototype of a word is generally faster than non-prototypes since they are learned first and represent their category of words more commonly. For example, 'apple' is a prototype of the category fruit more so than kiwi. Words that are used more often to represent their category are retrieved more quickly than those that are less frequently used.

Lexical entries do not give information regarding orthographic form.

Lexical entries do not give information regarding orthographic form.

'Piano' being called out from the lexicon before 'harp' illustrates the frequency effect because the word 'piano' is more frequently used than the word 'harp' when referring to instruments. The semantic properties of colors are related to one's experiences with objects bearing colors such as 'red' and 'blue'. It is not possible to measure whether 'red' is experienced more frequently than 'blue' or whether one is more common or prototypical than another.

'Piano' being called out from the lexicon before 'harp' illustrates the frequency effect because the word 'piano' is more frequently used than the word 'harp' when referring to instruments. On the contrary, 'ocean' is more frequently used (in the West) than 'sea'.