Université de Montréal - Thèse sous forme numérique

80knowledge no other set of systematic criteria for the validation of terms has beenproposed in the literature so far.The second important contribution by L‘Homme resides in the fact that sheconsiders verbs as ―an excellent starting point for capturing the lexical structure of aspecialized domain‖ (L‘Homme 2003: 407). For this reason, she implemented alexicographic method to elaborate specialized lexical resources that include specializedverbs. The lexicographic method relies on the Explanatory and CombinatorialLexicology (ECL) principles (Mel‘cuk et al. 1984-1999), a component of the Meaning-Text Theory (MTT). The MTT is a theoretical framework for the description of naturallanguages launched in Moscow in the 60s that lends itself well to computerapplications.In ECL, the lexicon is viewed as a system of LUs (words or set phrases taken inone well-defined sense). LUs can be predicative or non-predicative. Verbs, adjectives,adverbs and also most nouns can be predicative LUs. Predicative LUs necessarily haveparticipants in their meaning. An obligatory participant in the meaning of a given LU iscalled actant and an optional participant is called circumstant (Mel‘čuk 2004). Forexample, in the sentence Yesterday, John criticized Mary for her inappropriatebehaviour, the actants of the LU criticize are John, Mary and her inappropriatebehaviour, while yesterday is a circumstant.In ECL, predicative LUs should be exhaustively described by means of anactantial structure, i.e. a propositional form featuring the LU and its semantic actantsrepresented by variables (X criticize Y for Z) as well as by means of a definiens or thedefinition proper (its paraphrase in terms of simple constitutive meanings) (Milićević2006). Semantic relations between LUs are described by means of lexical functions(LFs). These can be divided into paradigmatic and syntagmatic LFs. Paradigmatic LFs