Chapter 18 Lexical Functions: Description of Lexical Relations in a ...

—Chapter 18. Lexical Functions— 80
ATTACKII ≈ (verbal aggression), as in Their troops launched a large-scale attack on the liberated
area vs. The committee launched a scathing attack on the Medical Research Council. (The
adjectives devastating and violent can apply to both ATTACKI and ATTACKII; for a more
precise description of the lexical cooccurrence, further senses should be distinguished—thus,
under ATTACKI one has to isolate (military operation) vs. (physical aggression) etc.
— Give a KISS vs. blow a KISS: here we also have two different noun lexemes: KISS1 (X’s ges-
ture of affection toward Y done with X’s lips touching Y’s body ...) vs. KISS2 (X’s gesture of af-
fection toward Y done at a distance: X kisses X’s own fingers and shows them to Y as if X were
throwing X’s kiss1 to Y). Then give = Oper 1(kiss1 N ) and blow = Oper 1(kiss2N). Cf. in German:
einen KUSS (kiss1) geben (give) vs. eine KUSSHAND (kiss2) zuwerfen (throw at).
— Give a LOOK vs. have a LOOK (from Cattell 1984: 84-86):
(15) a. John gave 〈*had at〉 Sue a look, as if he wanted to kill her 〈... *to see what color her
eyes were〉.
b. John had 〈*gave〉 a look at Sue to see what color her eyes were 〈... *as if he wanted to
kill her〉.
c. give [N] 〈*have [at N]〉 a blank look.
Here, too, we have two noun lexemes: LOOK1, which is given to express or communicate some-
thing, and LOOK2, which is had to see or learn something.
6.1.2 Semantic Subtypes of Lexical Functions
Another source of non-synonymy of the elements in the value f(L) is the existence of
semantic subtypes for several LFs. These subtypes are marked by way of superscripts.
• For fulfillment verbs (Real, Fact, and Labreal), numerical Roman superscripts ‘ I ’, ‘ II ’, and
‘ III ’ indicate the degree of realization of the ‘requirement’ in question. Thus, Real I 1(invitation)=
accept, while Labreal II 12(invitation) = take [NY] up [on NY’s invitation]; in point of fact, you have
first to accept an invitation, and then you do whatever you are invited to do (if nothing interferes
of course). Cf. as well Real I
3(suggestion) = accept, while Real II
3(suggestion) = act [on the sug-
gestion]; Real I
3(advice) = accept, take and Real II
3(advice) = follow; etc.
The superscript ‘ I ’ denotes the minimal degree of realization (say, at the mental level only),
the superscript ‘ II ’, the middle degree of realization (the final degree at the mental level or the
initial degree at the physical level), and the superscript ‘ III ’, the maximal degree of realization (at
the physical level).