Locally contingent categorization in discourse
- 1 January 1997
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Taylor & Francis in Discourse Processes
- Vol. 23 (1) , 83-97
- https://doi.org/10.1080/01638539709544983
Abstract
Most investigations into the nature of categories have been concerned with lexicalized categories—that is, those that are encoded as a single, lexical item (bird, furniture). This study investigates the creation and interpretation of nonlexicalized categories within discourse, as indicated by the use of general extenders (Do they have good restaurants and stuff. He didn't howl or anything). Such categories are locally contingent, depend on contextually salient features for identifying similarity among members, and can be created through contrast or contiguity. Often subject to negotiation, these discourse‐generated categories clearly depend on assumptions of intersubjectivity for their co‐construction and interpretation.Keywords
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