An Introduction to Lexical Semantics provides a comprehensive theoretical overview of lexical semantics, analysing the major lexical categories in English: verbs, nouns, adjectives, adverbs, and prepositions. The book illustrates step-by-step how to use formal semantic tools.

List of FiguresList of TablesList of SymbolsPart I. Preliminaries1 Introduction 1.1 Lexical and Compositional Semantics 1.2 Defining Lexeme, Word, and Meaning1.2.1 Lexeme1.2.2 Word1.2.3 Meaning1.3 Meaning-to-Form Perspective1.3.1 Lexical Field Theory1.3.2 Componential Analyses1.3.3 Conceptual Semantics1.3.4 Natural Semantic Metalanguage 1.3.5 Prototype Theory1.3.6 Frame Semantics1.4 Form-to-Meaning Perspective1.4.1 Polysemy1.4.2 Coercion1.4.3 Metonymy1.4.4 Metaphor1.5 ConclusionSuggested ReadingPractice2. Methods2.1 Logical Language2.2.1 Propositional Calculus2.2.2 Predicate Calculus2.2.3 Lambda Calculus2.2 Model Theory2.2.1 Truth Relative to a Model2.2.2 Intensional Models2.3 Type Theory2.3.1 Basic and Functional Types2.3.2 Many-sorted Types 2.4 Lexical Entailments2.4.1 Grammatical Distributions of Words2.4.2 Lexical Decomposition2.4.3 Meaning Postulates2.5 ConclusionSuggested ReadingPracticePart II. Verbs3. Common Classifications of Verbs3.1 Ingredients of Verb Semantics3.1.1 Valency and Argument Order3.1.2 Event Semantics3.2 Thematic Roles 3.2.1 Major Theta-Roles3.2.2 UTAH and the Thematic Hierarchy3.2.3 Proto Roles3.3 Aspectual Classes 3.3.1 Aktionsart3.3.2 Operational Tests3.4 Event Templatic Structure 3.4.1 Templates and Rroots3.4.2 Ontological Types of Roots3.4.3 Consequences of the Bipartite View3.5 ConclusionSuggested Reading PracticeChapter 4. Types of Verbs4.1 Many-Sorted Types in the Eventuality Domain 4.1.1 The Logic of Change4.1.2 The Hierarchy of Many-Sorted Types in the Eventuality Domain 4.2 Process and Event Type Verbs 4.2.1 The Change of State Domain4.2.2 Manner of Motion and Directed Motion Verbs4.2.3 Mereology4.3 Punctual and Durative Event Type Verbs 4.3.1 Semantics of Incrementality4.3.2 Ditransitive Verbs in the Dative Alternation4.4 Bounded and Unbounded Durative Event Type Verbs 4.4.1 Variable Telicity and Degree Achievements 4.4.2 The Degree Argument and a Standard of Comparison4.4.3 A Measure of Change Function4.5 Conclusion Suggested ReadingPractice5. Polysemy and Coercion5.1 Polysemy5.1.1 Problems with Verbal Polysemy5.1.2 The Sense Enumerative Lexical Model 5.1.3 Co-compositionality5.2 Theoretical Approaches to Polysemy5.2.1 Literalist Approach 5.2.2 Over-Specification Approach5.2.3 Under-Specification Approach5.3 Coercion5.3.1 Complement Coercion5.3.2 Aspectual Coercion5.4 Event-like Behaviors of Stative Verbs 5.4.1 Manner Modification 5.4.2 Analyses Without Coercion5.5 ConclusionSuggested ReadingPracticePart III. Nouns6. Theories of Nouns6.1 Names6.1.1 Criteria of Identity6.1.2 Names as Rigid Designators 6.1.3 Fictional Names6.2 Reference to Kind6.2.1 Interpretation of Bare Nouns6.2.2 Object, Kind, and Stage6.2.3 Nominalization and Predicativization6.3 Qualia Structure 6.3.1 Formal and Constitutive Qualia 6.3.2 Telic and Agentive Qualia 6.4 Complex Types6.4.1 Dot Objects6.4.2 Product Types and the Object Elaboration6.5 ConclusionSuggested ReadingPractice7. Types of Nouns7.1 Object and Substance Type Nouns7.1.1 Many-Sorted Types in the Domain of Things 7.1.2 The Count Versus Mass Distinction 7.1.3 Lattice-Theoretic Analyses of Mass Nouns7.1.4 Relationship to the Ontology 7.1.5 Universal Packager and Universal Grinder7.2 Natural Kind and Artifact Object Type Nouns7.2.1 Philosophical Debates 7.2.2 Artifact Nouns and Telic Qualia 7.3 Animate and Inanimate Natural Kind Object Type Nouns7.3.1 The Animacy Hierarchy and Grammatical Effects 7.3.2 Shifting Animacy 7.4 Eventuality Type Nouns7.4.1 Deverbal Nouns 7.4.2 Abstract Nouns 7.5 ConclusionSuggested ReadingPractice8. Metonymy and Metaphor8.1 Metonymy and its Neighboring Concepts 8.1.1 Diverse Relations in Metonymy 8.1.2 Metonymy and Reference Transfer8.1.3 Metonymy, Coercion, and Dot Objects8.2 Theories of Metonymy 8.2.1 Radical Pragmatic Theories 8.2.2 Rule-Based Approaches 8.2.3 An Integrated Approach8.3 Metaphor as Conceptual Domain Mapping8.3.1 Comparison- and Categorization-Based Theories8.3.2 Conceptual Metaphor Theory8.4 Formal Approaches of Metaphor 8.4.1 A Reductionist Approach 8.4.2 An Intensional Approach8.4.3 A Pragmatic Rule Approach 8.5 ConclusionSuggested ReadingPracticePart IV. Other Lexical CategoriesChapter 9. Types of Adjectives9.1 Typology of Adjectives9.1.1 Overview9.1.2 Intersective Adjectives9.1.3 Subsective Adjectives9.1.4 Intensional Adjectives9.2 Scale Structure9.2.1 Absolute and Relative Adjectives9.2.2 Polar Antonyms9.3 Non-Dimensional or Evaluative Adjectives9.3.1 Subjectivity 9.3.2 Context-Sensitivity 9.4 The Order of Attributive Adjectives9.4.1 Inherent and Non-Inherent Qualities9.4.2 Intersective and Subsective Readings 9.5 ConclusionSuggested ReadingPracticeChapter 10. Theories of Adjective Meaning10.1 Type Homogeneity Versus Heterogeneity Hypotheses 10.1.1 Predicate Versus Modifier Analyses10.1.2 Doublet Theory10.1.3 Event-based Theory10.2 Theories of Vagueness 10.2.1 Vagueness, ambiguity and imprecision10.2.2 Fuzzy-Logic Theories10.2.3 Super-Valuation Theories10.3 Degree-based Theories10.3.1 Scales and Degrees10.3.2 Degree Arguments and the Implicit Degree Word10.4 Predicates of Personal Taste 10.4.1 Relativist Accounts10.4.2 Contextualist Accounts10.5 Conclusion Suggested ReadingPracticeChapter 11. The Semantics of Adverbs11.1 Interpretive Issues Regarding Adverbs11.1.1 Adverbs and Adverbials 11.1.2 Predicational and Functional Adverbs11.1.3 The Universal Adverb Hierarchy11.2 Typology of Adverbs11.2.1 Manner Adverbs11.2.2 Subject-Oriented Adverbs 11.2.3 Speaker-Oriented Adverbs11.3 Theoretical Approaches to Adverbs11.3.1 The Predicate Analysis11.3.2 The Operator Analysis11.3.3 Analyses of Speech-Act Adverbs11.4 Treating Adverbs as Arguments of Verbs11.4.1 Verb Augmentations11.4.2 Subject-Oriented Readings11.5 ConclusionSuggested ReadingPracticeChapter 12. The Semantics of Prepositions12.1 Typology of Prepositions 12.1.1 Do Prepositions Form a Lexical Category?12.1.2 Locative and directional prepositions12.1.3 Algebra of path12.2 Vector Space Semantics12.2.1 Problems with the Point Ontology12.2.2 Vector Ontology12.2.3 Topological Prepositions in Vector Space Semantics12.2.4 Projective Prepositions in Vector Space Semantics12.3 Directional Prepositions12.3.1 Path12.3.2 Analyses of Directional Prepositions12.3.3 Aspectual Properties12.4 Pragmatics of Prepositions12.4.1 Functional Aspects12.4.2 Polysemy12.4.3 Metaphoric Extensions12.4.4 Primacy of Spatial Relations12.5 ConclusionSuggested ReadingPracticeEpilogueReferencesIndex

"This is a well-researched and comprehensive textbook, uniquely organized so as to provide substantial coverage of each of the major lexical categories. Lee’s insightful overview serves as an excellent introduction to formal semantic research on the lexicon, suitable for students and researchers alike."David Stringer, Indiana University, USA