Hidden Structure and Function in the Lexicon
This addresses a foundational problem in linguistics and cognitive science by uncovering hidden lexical structure, though it appears incremental as it builds on graph-theoretic analysis.
The study tackled the problem of determining the minimal set of words needed to define all others in a dictionary, revealing that about 10% of words form a Kernel, with a Core component and Satellites, and identified Minimal Grounding Sets that are learned earlier and more concrete.
How many words are needed to define all the words in a dictionary? Graph-theoretic analysis reveals that about 10% of a dictionary is a unique Kernel of words that define one another and all the rest, but this is not the smallest such subset. The Kernel consists of one huge strongly connected component (SCC), about half its size, the Core, surrounded by many small SCCs, the Satellites. Core words can define one another but not the rest of the dictionary. The Kernel also contains many overlapping Minimal Grounding Sets (MGSs), each about the same size as the Core, each part-Core, part-Satellite. MGS words can define all the rest of the dictionary. They are learned earlier, more concrete and more frequent than the rest of the dictionary. Satellite words, not correlated with age or frequency, are less concrete (more abstract) words that are also needed for full lexical power.