X-Nico

unusual facts about Prototype theory


Prototype theory

de Saussure's notion of concepts as purely differential: "non pas positivement par leur contenu, mais negativement par leurs rapports avec les autres termes du systeme" p. 162; not positively, in terms of their content, but negatively by contrast with other terms in the same system (tr. Harris 83).



see also

Language bioprogram theory

McWhorter contributed to the LBH with his Creole Prototype Theory, which argues that creoles exhibit some features that may be used to distinguish them from other languages without referring to the socio-historical dimension.