Featuring new coverage of the brain and language, and lexical corpora, the 4th edition of Words in the Mind offers readers the latest thinking about the ways in which we learn words, remember them, understand them, and find the ones we want to use. Explores the latest insights into the complex relationship between language, words, and the human mind, creating a rich and revealing resource for students and non-specialists alike Addresses the structure and content of the human word-store the mental lexicon with particular reference to the spoken language of native English speakers Features a wealth of new material, including an all-new chapter focusing exclusively on the brain and language, and enhanced coverage of lexical corpora computerized databases and on lexical change of meaning Incorporates numerous updates throughout, including expansion of many notes and suggestions for further reading Comprises state-of-the-art research, yet remains accessible and student-friendly

Featuring new coverage of the brain and language, and lexicalcorpora, the 4th edition of Words in the Mind offers readersthe latest thinking about the ways in which we learn wordsremember them, understand them, and find the ones we want to use.* Explores the latest insights into the complex relationshipbetween language, words, and the human mind, creating a rich andrevealing resource for students and non-specialists alike* Addresses the structure and content of the human word-store the 'mental lexicon' - with particularreference to the spoken language of native English speakers* Features a wealth of new material, including an all-new chapterfocusing exclusively on the brain and language, and enhancedcoverage of lexical corpora - computerized databasesand on lexical change of meaning* Incorporates numerous updates throughout, including expansionof many notes and suggestions for further reading* Comprises state-of-the-art research, yet remains accessible andstudent-friendly

Preface ixAcknowledgments xiAbbreviations and Symbols xiiiPart I: Aims and Evidence 11 Welcome to Dictionopolis! 3The human word-store2 Links in the Chain 18Assessing the evidence3 Programming Dumbella 32Modeling the mental lexicon4 Brainy Matters 42The physical underlayPart II: Basic Ingredients 515 Slippery Customers 53Attempts to pin down the meaning of words6 Bad Birds and Better Birds 66Prototype theories7 Whispering Chambers of the Imagination 80Mental models8 The Primordial Atomic Globule Hunt 90The search for semantic primitives9 Word-webs 99Semantic networks10 Close Companions 113Words which cling together11 Lexical All-sorts 119Parts of speech12 Verb Power 131The role of verbs13 Bits of Words 145The internal architecture of words14 Taking Care of the Sounds 157Dealing with the sound patternsPart III: Newcomers 16915 Multiple Meanings 171The polysemy problem16 Interpreting Ice-cream Cones 182Metaphor and metonymy17 Globbering Mattresses 194Creating new words18 What is a Bongaloo, Daddy? 209How children learn the meaning of words19 Aggergog Miggers, Wips and Gucks 222How children cope with the sounds of wordsPart IV: The Overall Picture 23520 Seeking and Finding 237Selecting words21 Organized Guesswork 248Recognizing words22 Odd Arrangements and Funny Solutions 261The organization of the mental lexicon23 Last Word 267Final comments and future questionsNotes 270References 292Index 327