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

6.1.3 Different Semantic ‘Facets’ of a Keyword
—Chapter 18. Lexical Functions— 82
The elements of the value f(L) can further be non-synonymous because the keyword L can
be considered in different situations or, better, under different facets—and in these different
facets it has different values with a given LF f. Two major classes of cases must be distinguished:
a facet is specified a) by the instantiation of a SemA of L or b) by a particular angle from which
the referent of L is considered.
Facets defined by the value of a SemA
Consider, for example, HEART2 (X’s imaginary organ of emotion Y toward Z ...).
• If the emotion is love, i.e., Y = LOVE, then Fact 3(heart2) = belongs [to NZ].
• If the emotion is joy, then Fact 0(heart2) = sings.
• If the emotion is sorrow, then Fact 3(heart2) = sinks [at NZ] | NZ = idea,thought, ...
• If the emotion is grief, then Fact 0(heart2) = bleeds.
For Y = SORROW, Caus 3Fact 1(heart2) = break [NX’s ~];
for Y = PLEASURE, Caus 3Fact 1(heart2) = warm [(the cockles of) NX’s ~];
and for Y = PAINFUL FEELING, Caus 3Fact 1(heart2) = gnaw [at NX’s ~], pierce [NX’s ~].
As can be easily seen, the elements of the values of different LFs differ, in their turn,
according to the SemA Y of HEART2.
Facets defined by the perspective on L
The referent of L may be used in different situations in various ways. Because of that, L
may have different clusters of semantic derivations and collocates, each cluster corresponding to
a particular situation. To put it differently, L has different restricted cooccurrence as a function of
different situations of its use—of its different facets. To account for this, the lexical entry of L
has to be divided according to these facets. Let us illustrate this phenomenon with two examples:
nouns BLOOD and NOSE.
In English, the noun BLOOD is used under six different facets: as a ‘carrier’ of life (= blood
circulation), as a signal of injury or disease (bleeding), as the target of medical treatment, as a
symbol of temperament and feelings, as a symbol of life, and as a ‘carrier’ of biological origin.
Its lexical entry will show the divisions along these lines.
BLOOD (fluid circulating in the body...)
1) Circulation
blood vessels, arteries; B. flows/runs in X’s veins, rushes to X’s cheeks, ...