What is a lexical relation with a simple set structure?

A lexical relation with a simple set structure is a pattern of association between lexical units that share one or more semantic components.

A simple set can be represented mathematically as

The most common lexical relation of this type in English is a synonym set. A synonym set consists of lexical units which share all or most of their core semantic components.

Here are some examples of synonym sets:

• {assembly, gathering, meeting}
• {just, equitable, lawful, fair}
• {happy, joyful, glad}

Context for this page:

• Concept module: lexical relation with a simple set structure
• 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: 5 January 2004

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