Homework

Ling 360, Spring 2007

Homework due: Wednesday, February 28

1. For each of the following category names, discuss whether it is basic-level, superordinate, or subordinate. Use the relevant criteria from your reading and lecture. If you are not sure about your answer, explain why. Discuss any problems you have in applying the criteria given in lecture and your readings.

a. convertible

b. fork

c. vertebrate

d. puppy

e. sandal

f. vegetable

g. swim

2. Consider the following collection of words: protect, harm, safe, protected, unharmed, careful, danger, risk, threat. Consider these as a semantic field defined by a single frame. For example, take the word protect. Assuming that protect is defined by a frame, what is in that frame? What kinds of entities (hint: a potential victim)? What kinds of relations hold among those entities? As best you can, describe the frame for this semantic field and tell what each word designates in the frame. (Notes: One of your jobs will be to account for certain inferences, for example, if A has protected B from C, then C has not harmed B. What other inferences need to be accounted for by the frame? Another thing you will have to do is to set up the frame to show the distinctions between the words safe, protected, and unharmed.) Are there any scripts associated with this frame, and if so, what are they? Discuss any interesting difficulties you have in doing the assignment.