Content Word Set

A content word set is a lexical item set composed of content words.

• AKA: Open Word Class.
• Context:
  • It can (typically) be composed of Content Words.
  • It can be restricted to some specific Natural Language.
  • It can grow by means of:
    • a Word Compounding Process.
    • a Derivation Process.
    • a Word Coining Process.
    • a Word Borrowing Process.
  • …
• Example(s):
  • an English Noun Set.
  • a Terminological Unit Set.
  • …
• Counter-Example(s):
  • a Function Word Set.
• See: Lexical Database.

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References

2009

• (Wikipedia, 2009) ⇒ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_class_(linguistics)
  • In linguistics, an open class (or open word class) is a word class that accepts the addition of new items, through such processes as compounding, derivation, coining, borrowing, etc. Typical open word classes are nouns, verbs and adjectives.
  • Open-class words are not considered part of the core language and as such they can be changed, replaced or dropped from the common which can encompass many thousands of them. For living languages, this change is noticeable within an individual lifespan, and usually faster. Closed-class words, on the other hand, are always relatively few and resistant to change. (For example, most English-speaking people employ more or less the same prepositions and pronouns as their great-grandparents, but different and probably more nouns and verbs.)

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