Semantic Density Analysis: Comparing Word Meaning across Time and Phonetic Space

TitleSemantic Density Analysis: Comparing Word Meaning across Time and Phonetic Space
Publication TypeConference Paper
Year of Publication2009
AuthorsSagi, E, Kaufmann, S, Clark, B
EditorBasili, R, Pennacchiotti, M
Conference NameProceedings of the EACL 2009 Workshop on GEMS: Geometrical Models of Natural Language Semantics
Pagination104-111
Conference LocationAthens, Greece
Abstract

This paper presents a new statistical method for detecting and tracking changes in word meaning, based on Latent Semantic Analysis. By comparing the density of semantic vector clusters this method allows researchers to make statistical inferences on questions such as whether the meaning of a word changed across time or if a phonetic cluster is associated with a specific meaning. Possible applications of this method are then illustrated in tracing the semantic change of "dog","do", and "deer" in early English and examining and comparing phonaesthemes.

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