What is a scalar property lexical relation?

Introduction
	Understanding the scalar property lexical relation is important in using words which refer to such things as
	dimensions, and physical properties.

Definition
	A scalar property lexical relation is an association between sets of lexical units which refers to the relative values for a property of an object or event as determined against a qualitative standard.

Examples (English)

Scalar property	Example
Relative distances	{here, there, yonder}
Relative force	{nudge, push, bulldoze}
Relative size	{tiny, small, medium, large, huge}
Relative time	{immediately, soon, later}
Relative temperature	{cold, cool, lukewarm, warm, hot}
Relative velocity (human movement)	{crawl, walk, run}

Underlying structure

A scalar property set has the structure of a scale.

See:

What is a lexical relation with a scale structure for other examples of similar lexical relations in English.

Frames
	Here are some frames for testing and eliciting a scalar property lexical relation:
	Using a set of objects differing only in a particular property (such as size), ask a language associate to describe and compare the different objects. The <property name> of an <object name, activity name> can range from A, to B, to C…to F.

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: 5 January 2004