Word observation sheet

Words

Ordinary meaning

Idiomatic meaning

Word clusters play an important role in mental lexicon. Mentally words are grouped as clusters in two models: "atomic globule" and "cobweb" (Aitchison,J. 1994. Words in Mind: An Introduction to the Mental Lexicon. Oxford: Blackwell). Atomic globules are clusters with the meaning that related words have in common. Atomic globule can be represented by a matrix

Exploratory task 1.15. Combine the “near synonyms” of the verb “to cry” with their semantic features. Put a cross at the intersection of the verb and the semantic features.

	With tears	With emotions	With noise	Mournfully	Being upset	After withholding
Cry
Weep
Sob
Wail
Burst into tears
Break down

Exploratory task 1.16

Match the “near synonyms” of the verb “to cause surprise” with their implied semantic features (Jordan, R. 1997. English for Academic Purposes. CUP. P. 155).

Synonyms	Implied meaning
Surprise	Causing to think again
Astonish	Making feel shy
Amaze	Leaving helpless
Astound	Unexpected
Flabbergast	Unbelievable
Shock	Running counter to the usual
Move	Eliciting emotional response
Bewilder	Stupefy
Embarrass	Hard to bear

Atomic globule can be represented as a "constellation". In the “constellation” there is one central word that expresses the “global meaning” of the words with the meaningful link to the “centre”. In the example below the general ideas of “suffering in the body” can be expressed with a number of words like “pain”, “ache, “agony”, “to sore”, “to sting”, etc. All these semantic features are stored in the mental lexicon and are typical of the native speaker’s word competence.

Exploratory task 1.17

Give the shades of meaning to the words in the “constellation” of “suffering in the body”

Stiff (neck)

Pain

Ache

Suffering in the body

Sting

Sore

Agony

Cobweb represents one's individual associations in mental lexicon in the form of a mind-map. E.g. given below is one’s individual association with the word “mail”.

Fast	Hope	Armour	Black	Vandals
Email	Send	Knight		Security
Snail mail		Mail	Mailbox	Empty
Slow	Receive	Subscription	Letters
Reliable	Impatience	Expensive	Newspapers	Magazines