1. Words as Types and Words as Tokens Token is instance or individual occurrence of a type.
2. (1) Mary goes to Edinburgh next week and she intends going to Washington next month. The same word of the sentence are distinct tokens of a single types.
3. The type-token distinction is relevant to the notion “word” in this way. Sentences may be said to be composed of word-tokens, but it is clearly not word-tokens that are listed in dictionaries. It would be absurd to suggest that each occurrence of the word next in sentence merits a separate dictionary entry.
4. The term word would be ambiguous between a ‘type’ interpretation and a ‘token’ interpretation; but the ambiguity would be just the same as is exhibited by many other terms not specifically related to language. For example : tune a tune you heard this morning may be “the same” as one you heard yesterday.
5. The distinction between a type and its tokens is an ontological one between a general sort of thing and its particular concrete instances. Types are generally said to be abstract and unique; tokens are concrete particulars.
6. The distinction between a type and its tokens is an ontological one between a general sort of thing and its particular concrete instances. Types are generally said to be abstract and unique; tokens are concrete particulars.