Tracing semantic change with distributional methods

The contexts of algo

Bibliographic Data

ID20345293
AuthorsPatrícia Amaral (0000-0002-8217-3954, Indiana University), Hai Hu (0000-0002-9175-7775, Shanghai Jiao Tong University), Sandra Kübler (0000-0003-0885-5436, Indiana University)
Year2023
Volume40
Issue2
Pages153-194
Publication date2023-04-18
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueDiachronica (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0176-4225 • E-ISSN: 1569-9714
PublisherJohn Benjamins Publishing Company (PUBLISHER • NL)
DOI10.1075/dia.21012.ama
OpenAlexW4308589860
LanguageEN
References cited34

This paper uses the tools of distributional semantics to investigate the semantic change of algo from a noun meaning ‘goods, possessions’ and an indefinite pronoun ‘something’ in the Medieval/Classical period of Spanish to an indefinite pronoun and degree adverb ‘a bit’ in contemporary Spanish. We compare the results of a previous corpus-based study ( Amaral 2016 ) on the semantic change of algo with an analysis using word embeddings models with two goals: (i) to show how word embeddings can help identify different synchronic values of a word, and (ii) to provide measures of change through distributional semantic methods. We discuss the challenges of a study with this methodology using limited data from older periods of a language, hence putting into focus decisions that have to be made and their implications for the analysis. In this way, we hope to contribute to a fruitful integration of more traditional studies in diachronic semantics with the methodology of word embeddings

Adverb · Epistemology · Linguistics · Natural language processing · Noun · Pronoun · Referent · Semantic change · Tracing · Computer Science · Language and cultural evolution · Linguistic Variation and Morphology · Philosophy · Spanish Linguistics and Language Studies · Artificial Intelligence

Tools

Open DOI