[Lexicog] Re: lexical phrase

[John Roberts]

Mike Maxwell wrote:
>
> The reason 'on the one hand' or 'on the other hand' might be considered 
> a lexeme is because the meaning (when used as a sentential modifier) is 
> non-compositional.  If I say "On the other hand, it would be better to 
> eat chocolate ice cream", it has nothing to do with the number of hands 
> I do or don't have, or whether something (like melted ice cream) is on 
> my hand.  And that unpredictable, idiomatic meanings is why it would be 
> listed in a lexicon, and maybe in a dictionary.
>   
The Longman Dictionary of English Idioms says the meaning of 'on (the) 
one hand ... and on the other (hand) ...' is "in one case ... and in 
another" and is used to emphasize the comparison between two opposite 
statements, opinions, arguments, ideas, etc. This doesn't seem very 
non-compositional to me. Firstly, there is the sense that 'on (the) one 
hand' is the first of a pair of linguistic expressions and is properly 
matched to 'on the other (hand)'. Secondly, there is the notion of 
expressing a comparison. Thirdly, there is the notion that the 
comparison is between two opposite statements, opinions, arguments, 
ideas, etc. and so on. The LDEI also notes that the first expression 'on 
the other hand' is often omitted and only 'on the other hand' is 
expressed. I would say there is plenty of compositionality to the 
meaning of 'on the other hand'.

John Roberts

-- 
********************
John R Roberts
SIL International Linguistics Consultant
dr_john_roberts at sil.org
********************



 
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