Distributional Semantics and Linguistic Theory
Gemma Boleda
June 2022
 

Distributional semantics provides multidimensional, graded, empirically induced word representations that successfully capture many aspects of meaning in natural languages, as shown by a large body of research in computational linguistics; yet, its impact in theoretical linguistics has so far been limited. This review provides a critical discussion of the literature on distributional semantics, with an emphasis on methods and results that are relevant for theoretical linguistics, in three areas: semantic change, polysemy and composition, and the grammar–semantics interface (specifically, the interface of semantics with syntax and with derivational morphology). The goal of this review is to foster greater cross-fertilization of theoretical and computational approaches to language as a means to advance our collective knowledge of how it works.
Format: [ pdf ]
Reference: lingbuzz/006663
(please use that when you cite this article)
Published in: Annual Review of Linguistics
keywords: distributional semantics, vector space models, vector spaces, semantic spaces, computational semantics, semantic change, diachronic semantics, polysemy, composition, syntax–semantics interface, derivational morphology, semantics
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