Universal #1929

Legacy number: 1929

 Number  1923
 Original  If a language has two near-synonymous constructions which differ structurally in linguistic distance, they will differ semantically in (among other things) conceptual distance in a parallel fashion.
 Standardized  If a language has two near-synonymous constructions which differ structurally in linguistic distance, they will differ semantically in (among other things) conceptual distance in a parallel fashion.
 Keywords  linguistic distance, conceptual distance
 Domain  morphology, syntax, semantics
 Type  unconditional
 Status  achronic
 Quality  statistical
 Basis  languages mentioned in Croft 1990
 Source  Croft 1990: 175

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Discussion
Notes
Following Haiman (1983, 1985), syntactic integration can be measured in terms of LINGUISTIC DISTANCE. The linguistic distance between two elements in a construction, such as a modifier and a noun in an noun phrase, is determined by whether or not there is a third morpheme linking the two elements in the construction, and the type boundary between the elements (morpheme boundary or word boundary). Semantic integration can be measured in terms of CONCEPTUAL DISTANCE. Haiman defines conceptual distance as follows (1985: 106-107):Two ideas are conceptually close to the extent that theya. share semantic features, properties or parts; b. affect each other; c. are factually inseparable; d. are perceives as a unit, whether factually inseparable or not.
Comment
Frans Plank · 3 Aug 2006
Following Haiman (Haiman 1983, Haiman 1985), syntactic integration can be measured in terms of LINGUISTIC DISTANCE. The linguistic distance between two elements in a construction, such as a modifier and a noun in an noun phrase, is determined by whether or not there is a third morpheme linking the two elements in the construction, and the type boundary between the elements (morpheme boundary or word boundary). Semantic integration can be measured in terms of CONCEPTUAL DISTANCE. Haiman defines conceptual distance as follows (Haiman 1985: 106-107):
Two ideas are conceptually close to the extent that they
a. share semantic features, properties or parts; b. affect each other; c. are factually inseparable; d. are perceives as a unit, whether factually inseparable or not.