exemplars and prototypes

[Brian MacWhinney]

--On Sat, Oct 17, 1998 3:43 PM -0500 David_Tuggy at SIL.ORG wrote:

>      Must exemplars be "specific real-world instance[s], i.e. a particular
>      dog or a particular candle."? Couldn't the non-particular,
>      less-specific concept GERMAN SHEPHERD be one of the exemplars for a
>      category such as DOG, or VOTIVE CANDLE IN A SMALL GLASS be an
>      exemplar for CANDLE?

Sure, that's fine. That would be a subordinate category serving as a part
of the database for a superordinate.  But it is not what exemplar theories
in psychology are assuming.  They are assuming some real German Shepherd,
not the union of the features of all German Shepherds you have met.
Exemplars are real things.  Like the third votive candle from the left in
my cupboard -- the one with the green tinge and heavy base.

By the way, don't all votive candles end up being in small glasses?

--Brian MacWhinney