From early lexical acquisition to the "disacquisition" of the verbal lexicon: Verbal metaphor as semantic approximation*

ABSTRACT: Studies in field of metaphor focus on the lexicon of nouns, to the detriment of an investigation of verbs. In this paper we examine the metaphorical use of verbs, analyzing the semantic approximations produced by young French children during a naming task to describe actions in short action- video sequences. Our aim is to shed light on early linguistic and conceptual development of the verbal lexicon by comparing it to what might be considered its antithesis: the dynamics of “disacquisition” of lexicon by patients with dementia consequent on Alzheimer’s disease. Finally, we present a computerized model of the semantic proximity (“PROX”) which we test using the utterances produced by children. The results (a) confirm the striking similarity in the use of verbal metaphors by young children initially learning to speak and elderly Alzheimer patients losing their capacity to name actions; and (b) support our hypothesis that semantic approximation does not constitute simple error or deviation from the norm, by comparing our subjects’ utterances with the proximity of verbs generated by the our mathematical computer model.

[1]  Roman Jakobson,et al.  Two Aspects of Language and Two Types of Aphasic Disturbances , 1971 .

[2]  M. Tomasello.  Constructing a Language: A Usage-Based Theory of Language Acquisition , 2003 .

[3]  Karine Duvignau.  La métaphore, berceau et enfant de la langue : la métaphore verbale comme approximation sémantique par analogie dans les textes scientifiques et les productions enfantines (2-4 ans) , 2002 .

[4]  D. Gentner,et al.  SOME INTERESTING DIFFERENCES BETWEEN VERBS AND NOUNS , 1981 .

[5]  Eve V. Clark,et al.  First Language Acquisition , 2002, The Study of Language.

[6]  Robert R. Hoffman.  Developmental perspectives on metaphor , 1995 .

[7]  Bruno Gaume,et al.  Forms of meaning, meaning of forms , 2002, J. Exp. Theor. Artif. Intell..

[8]  Le Ny,et al.  La Sémantique psychologique , 1979 .

[9]  Jean-François Le Ny,et al.  FLEXIBILITE DES SIGNIFICATIONS, TRAITS SÉMANTIQUES ET COMPRÉHENSION DES MÉTAPHORES VERBALES , 2001 .

[10]  Douglas R. Hofstadter,et al.  Fluid Concepts and Creative Analogies , 1995 .

[11]  M. Tomasello.  First Verbs: A Case Study of Early Grammatical Development , 1994 .

[12]  Dedre Gentner,et al.  On Relational Meaning: The Acquisition of Verb Meaning. Technical Report No. 78. , 1977 .

[13]  Eve V. Clark,et al.  The Lexicon in Acquisition , 1996 .

[14]  J. Hodges,et al.  Charting the progression in semantic dementia: implications for the organisation of semantic memory. , 1995 .

[15]  E. Dromi.  Early Lexical Development , 1987 .

[16]  L. S. Vygotskiĭ.  Pensée et langage , 1985 .

[17]  Karine Duvignau,et al.  Métaphore verbale et approximation , 2003, Rev. d'Intelligence Artif..

[18]  D. Gentner,et al.  Language acquisition and conceptual development: Individuation, relativity, and early word learning , 2001 .

[19]  Alain-Charles Masquelet.  Le raisonnement médical. Paris : PUF/Presses Universitaires de France – Collection « Que sais-je ? », 2006 , 2006 .

[20]  Matthew A. Lambon Ralph,et al.  The Rise and Fall of Frequency and Imageability: Noun and Verb Production in Semantic Dementia , 2000, Brain and Language.

[21]  Mikyong Kim,et al.  Verb deficits in Alzheimer’s disease and agrammatism: Implications for lexical organization , 2004, Brain and Language.

[22]  D. Salmon,et al.  Semantic memory impairment in Alzheimer's disease: Failure of access or degraded knowledge? , 1992, Neuropsychologia.

[23]  B. Gaume,et al.  Balades aléatoires dans les Petits Mondes Lexicaux , 2004 .