Analyzing Semantic Maps: A Multifactorial Approach

Abstract

In this paper I argue that semantic similarity is not the only factor which motivates polysemy patterns cross-linguistically; I also show that these other factors (markedness, distinguishability, etc) may give rise to polysemies which are problematic for established semantic maps. Only when these other interfering factors, both functional and structural, are featured out, does a semantic network emerge and a ?similarity map? reduce to a semantic map.

Keywords

• semantic maps
• markedness
• polysemy