On the Distinction between Conceptual and Semantic Structure

In Štekauer’s onomasiological model of word formation, conceptual structure represents extra-linguistic information and semantic structure is linguistic in nature. Jackendoff in his Parallel Architecture assumes that there is a single level of conceptual structure. I explain how conceptual and semantic structure are placed in Štekauer’s framework. Jackendoff’s argument against a separate level of semantic structure is mainly based on Occam’s razor. The two models do not have the same scope. The central problem for which Štekauer devises his model is not at present covered in Jackendoff’s PA. Therefore both models can be accepted for their respective set of problems.