Ling/Anth 106


Mental Lexicon Assignment

Due: February 16th


Calculate the size of your mental lexicon. Follow the procedures we discussed in class, but be sure to document the procedures you use and the assumptions you make. In your two-page write up, you should:


1. Name the dictionary you used and state how many entries it contains.

2. Divide the words that you count into three groups:

            a. root morphemes (words without affixes)

            b. complex words (words with affixes)

            c. compounds

3. State the number of pages in the dictionary that you used and describe the procedure you followed to select those pages.

4. Describe the procedure that you followed to estimate the number of words in the dictionary in each category. Pay special attention to the procedure you used for polysemy and homophony.

5. Discuss the procedure that you used to recognize the words.

6. Present your results and discuss the factors that determine the accuracy of your count. How does your count underestimate or overestimate the number of words you recognize? What effect did the number of pages you used, or the categories have on your result? How would you correct these errors?


Your report should include the following sections:

 

1 point

I. Statement of the problem

 

5 points

II. Procedure

 

2 points

III. Results

 

2 points

IV. Conclusions


Extra Credit


Compare your vocabulary count with an estimate generated by an online vocabulary test.

            1. What factors account for the difference between your estimate and the online test?

            2. How would you improve the online test?