New Directions in Lexical Typology

The present issue brings together a cross-section of high-quality lexical-typological work which combines strong empirical results with a spectrum of methodological approaches. It emphasizes the methodological and theoretical concerns of lexical typology and the diversity of the existing and possible approaches within this research area, as well as highlights some important issues pertaining to the interface between lexical-typological research and theoretical linguistics. The nine papers in the issue cover a whole range of cognitive domains and topics. One of them, the domain of PAIN predicates, is a new addition to the crosslinguistic and typological research, while the others have been studied earlier. The articles enhance our knowledge by supplying new data and new views on the domains of PERCEPTION, EAT, EXISTENCE, LOCATION, SPATIAL RELATIONS, MOTION, DRINK, CUT, DIMENSION, BIOLOGICAL TAXONOMY, as well as on the topic of light verb constructions. Some of the articles deal with the onomasiological issues, others take a semasiological approach, still others focus mainly on the interaction between lexicon and grammar, while two papers finally combine the semasiological perspective with the close attention to the interaction between lexicon and grammar. The synchronic outlook is central for most of the papers, but in some cases diachronic considerations are also at stake, such as historical developments within the lexicon and their implications for historical comparative linguistics. In four of the papers the main interest lies in the methodological and/or theoretical aspects of lexical- typological research; two of the papers primarily bring in a wealth of new empirical data, whereas the last three papers contribute with new insights that are relevant from both the empirical, methodological and theoretical points of view.