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SUMMARY:Dealing with disasters: the problem of polysemy - Prof Jean Aitchi
 son (Faculty of English Language and Literature\, University of Oxford)
DTSTART:20090430T160000Z
DTEND:20090430T173000Z
UID:TALK14666@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Ruth Cumming
DESCRIPTION:Words often acquire new meanings. At one time\, this was regar
 ded as 'weakening'. But the older meanings typically remain\, alongside th
 e newer ones. The result is polysemy. But these extra meanings raise a pro
 blem: how do hearers know which meaning is intended?This talk will analyse
  the polysemy process\, with particular attention to words for catastrophi
 c events\, which typically 'layer' (become polysemous) fast. It will make 
 some suggestions as to how speakers and hearers handle these multiple mean
 ings. 
LOCATION:GR06-7\, English Faculty\, 9 West Road (Sidgwick Site)
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