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Term Lesson 19: Componential Analysis Applied To Terminology
Term Lesson 19: Componential Analysis Applied To Terminology
Componential analysis
applied to terminology
Terminology method
componential analysis
a method of semantic analysis
modelled on phonology
isolating the smallest units
phonology : the phoneme (or phonetic feature)
semantics : the seme (or semantic feature)
pioneered by
POTTIER B. (1992),
Smantique gnrale. PUF
accoudoirs
dossier
pour une
personne
chaise
fauteuil
canap
tabouret +
implications
Each semantic feature is made explicit
by presence (+) or absence (-)
The difference in meaning between words
can be expressed by these features
thus
Chair is a piece of furniture to sit on [the shared
feature for all the words in the group] with a back,
without arms and for one person [distinctive
features]
Stool is a piece of furniture to sit on without a back
or arms for one person
etc
Problems?
language specific
can chairs have arms in English?
Endowment insurance
This is a combination of term insurance
and pure endowment, the policy proceeds
being payable upon the death of the life
insured within the specified period, or at
the end of that period, say ten, 15, 20, 25
or 30 years, if the life insured survives until
the end of the period.
Term insurance
Under a term insurance policy the benefits
are payable upon the death of the life
insured, provided that death occurs within
a specified period. If the life insured
survives to the end of the period the cover
ceases and no benefits are payable.
Confused?
Each definition is drafted differently
Understanding one definition may depend
on having understood the others
Which information is necessary to
understand the difference between the
four sorts of life insurance listed?
Which can be considered background
information?
Solution ?
Componential analysis is your friend!
Extract each feature from the definitions
Find the common feature (which will be the
hyperonym)
Find all the other features
Determine by comparison which are defining
features and which are redundant.
semes/features:
+
Whole +
Pure E +
Endowm+
Term
+
+
+/-
+
+
+/-
insured alive ?
+
+/-
premiums medical
?
?
endowment
life insurance which pays benefits if the
assured dies within a set period or at the
end of the same period if the insured is
still alive
pure endowment
life insurance which provides benefits at
the end of a specified period, provided the
insured is still alive
whole of life
life insurance (policy) which pays benefits
on the death of the insured, whenever this
occurs
Componential analysis
helps us to
understand the relations between concepts
identify additional information necessary to
distinguish concepts
draft immediately comparable definitions
identify other features which may be relevant
in other contexts
Eg. how and when premiums are paid for whole of
life insurance
Limited pay
Limited-Pay policies are paid over a limited
period of time. Each type of plan is named after
the terms of the payment period (i.e., "20-Pay
Life," or "Life Paid-up at 65"). The payment
amounts are determined according to length of
the payment period. In addition, the insurer must
pay the full, insured amount to the beneficiary in
the event that the policyholder dies, even if the
insured has only made one payment to the
policy.
Distinguishing feature
the premium
Sum paid by the policyholder to the insurer in
return for cover
Two features relative to the premium are
mentioned
which ones ?
Is the premium
constant or variable?
for
single premium
continuous premium
limited pay
the premium is constant
for
current assumption
the premium is variable
+
-
+
+?
rate C
+
+
-
definitions
single premium whole life insurance
whole of life insurance for which the premium is paid
in one lump sum