tokens of a single type, and likewise the fifth and thirteenth word. (In
much the same way, one can say that two performances of the same tune,
or two copies of the same book, are distinct tokens of one type.)
The type–token distinction is relevant to the notion ‘word’ in this way.
Sentences (spoken or written) may be said to be composed of wordtokens,
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 (1)
merits a separate dictionary entry. Words as listed in dictionaries entries
are, at one level, types, not tokens – even though, at another level, one
may talk of distinct tokens of the same dictionary entry, inasmuch as the
entry for month in one copy of the Concise Oxford Dictionary is a different
token from the entry for month in another copy.
Is it enough, then, to say that characterisation 2. (words as buildingblocks)
relates to word-tokens and characterisation 1. (words as meaningful
units) relates to word-types? Again, if that were all there was to it,
this book could be quite short. 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, such as tune: a tune I heard this
morning may be ‘the same’ as one I heard yesterday (i.e. they may be
instances of the same type), but the two tokens that I have heard of it are
distinct. However, the relationship between words as building-blocks
and as meaningful units is not so simple as that, as we shall see. So, while
it is important to be alert to type–token ambiguity when talking about
words, recognising this sort of ambiguity is by no means all there is to
sorting out how characteristics 1. and 2. diverge.
tokens of a single type, and likewise the fifth and thirteenth word. (Inmuch the same way, one can say that two performances of the same tune,or two copies of the same book, are distinct tokens of one type.)The type–token distinction is relevant to the notion ‘word’ in this way.Sentences (spoken or written) may be said to be composed of wordtokens,but it is clearly not word-tokens that are listed in dictionaries. Itwould be absurd to suggest that each occurrence of the word next in (1)merits a separate dictionary entry. Words as listed in dictionaries entriesare, at one level, types, not tokens – even though, at another level, onemay talk of distinct tokens of the same dictionary entry, inasmuch as theentry for month in one copy of the Concise Oxford Dictionary is a differenttoken from the entry for month in another copy.Is it enough, then, to say that characterisation 2. (words as buildingblocks)relates to word-tokens and characterisation 1. (words as meaningfulunits) relates to word-types? Again, if that were all there was to it,this book could be quite short. The term word would be ambiguousbetween a ‘type’ interpretation and a ‘token’ interpretation; but theambiguity would be just the same as is exhibited by many other termsnot specifically related to language, such as tune: a tune I heard thismorning may be ‘the same’ as one I heard yesterday (i.e. they may beinstances of the same type), but the two tokens that I have heard of it aredistinct. However, the relationship between words as building-blocksand as meaningful units is not so simple as that, as we shall see. So, whileit is important to be alert to type–token ambiguity when talking aboutwords, recognising this sort of ambiguity is by no means all there is tosorting out how characteristics 1. and 2. diverge.
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