La polysémie systématique dans la description lexicale

G. Nunberg et A. Zaenen : La polysémie systématique dans la description lexicale The phenomenon of systematic polysemy offers a fruitful domain for examining the theoretical differences between lexicological and lexicographic approaches to description. We consider here the process that provides for systematic conversion of count to mass nouns in English (a chicken /chicken, an oak / oak etc.). From the point of view of lexicology, we argue, standard syntactic and pragmatic tests suggest the phenomenon should be described by means of a single unindividuated transfer function that does not distinguish between interpretations (rabbit = « meat » vs. « fur »). From the point of view of lexicography, however, these more precise interpretations are made part of explicit description via the inclusion of semantic « licences », a mechanism distinct from lexical rules.Nunberg Geoffrey, Zaenen Annie. La polysémie systématique dans la description lexicale. In: Langue française, n°113, 1997. Aux sources de la polysémie nominale, sous la direction de Pierre Cadiot et Benoît Habert. pp. 12-23