Re: on the meaning of 'word sense'

P.G.Hamer@bnr.co.uk
Tue, 2 May 95 09:35:07 BST

On Fri, 28 Apr 1995 17:39:35 -0400 Bob Amsler said:
>The distinction I usually make is that I expect true
>ambiguity resolution to find the distinctions between senses
>as detailed in a specific published dictionary. However, in

C M Sperberg-McQueen then made the important point:
> The only problem I have with this is the implicit assumption that
> the senses given in published dictionaries are disjoint.

Can I add that sometimes one of a words meanings is the opposite of another.
The classic case is "inflammable" -- which causes much angst to safety people.
While it may not yet have reached the dictionaries, "decimate" originally
meant reduce by 10% [as in the Roman punishment] but is now usually used
to mean reduce by a large amount (eg 90%).

Peter