37.3065, Books: Lexical Functions: Mel'čuk and Polguère (2026)

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LINGUIST List: Vol-37-3065. Thu Sep 24 2026. ISSN: 1069 - 4875.

Subject: 37.3065, Books: Lexical Functions: Mel'čuk and Polguère (2026)

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Date: 24-Sep-2026
From: Sebastian Nordhoff [support at langsci-press.org]
Subject: Lexical Functions: Mel'čuk and Polguère (2026)


Title: Lexical Functions
Subtitle: The naked truth
Series Title: Textbooks in Language Science
Publication Year: 2026

Publisher: Language Science Press
           http://langsci-press.org
Book URL: https://langsci-press.org/catalog/book/612

Author(s): Igor Mel'čuk, Alain Polguère

Abstract:

This book introduces lexical functions, a formal tool which ensures a
systematic homogeneous description of two complementary families of
relations between lexical units:
    derivations – paradigmatic lexical functions;
    collocations, which are constrained lexical combinations –
syntagmatic lexical functions.
Each lexical function is associated with a specific meaning and once
it is applied to a given lexical unit, which is seen as its argument,
the function returns, as its value, the set of (near-)synonymous
lexical entities which express this meaning depending on the argument.
As an example, the paradigmatic lexical function S₁ is associated with
the meaning 'someone/something which does/is...', and the syntagmatic
lexical function Magn is associated with the meaning
'very'/'intense(ly)' as illustrated below.
    S₁ (felony) = felon
    S₁(gossipᵥ) = gossiper; busybody
    S₁(disappointing) = disappointment; bummer
    Magn(penalty) = harsh, heavy, hefty, severe, stiff
    Magn(fightᵥ) = fiercely, ⌜to the bitter end⌝, ⌜tooth and nail⌝
    Magn(bored) = stiff [~], ⌜to death⌝, ⌜to tears⌝
The volume describes and illustrates (for English, French and Russian)
the system of 66 simple standard lexical functions, which can be
combined to form complex and configurational lexical functions.
Standard lexical functions are language-universal: they seem
sufficient for the description of standard derivations and
collocations of any language. (For unique and deviating derivations
and collocations non-standard lexical functions are assumed.)
Balancing conceptual depth with pedagogical effort, Lexical functions:
The naked truth guides readers from foundational notions to the full
system of lexical functions, concluding with their role in modeling
the network structure of natural language lexicons.

Linguistic Field(s): General Linguistics

Subject Language(s): English (eng, stan1293)
                     French (fra, stan1290)
                     Russian (rus, russ1263)

Written In: English (eng, stan1293)



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