What is a lexicon?

Definition
	A lexicon is the knowledge that a native speaker has about a language. This includes information about
	the form and meanings of words and phrases lexical categorization the appropriate usage of words and phrases relationships between words and phrases, and categories of words and phrases.
	Phonological and grammatical rules are not considered part of the lexicon.

Concept module: lexicon
In overview module: Glossary (Linguistics): L
In modular book: Glossary of linguistic terms, by Eugene E. Loos (general editor), Susan Anderson (editor), Dwight H., Day, Jr. (editor), Paul C. Jordan (editor), and J. Douglas Wingate (editor)
In bookshelf: Linguistics

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 5.0 published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 2003. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 18 September 1998