Dimensions of the Word

This volume inscribes itself in the long-standing debate on the question of the status of "the word". Considering the multi-faceted nature of the word, the authors are aware that no answer to the question might be exhaustive, yet they realizes that each answer brings us closer to a fuller understanding of the issue. The eleven authors included here address the nature of the word from a number of perspectives, such as the duality of the word; the status of the word as a meaningful unit; the meaning extension; the lexico-grammar continuum; and the pragmatic functioning of the word, to name but a few. Each of the chapters is a fresh contribution that broadens the perspective traditionally adopted in a discussion of the word, and, at the same time, constitutes a sound overview of the issues and approaches taken in such an analysis at the turn of the second and third millennium. The volume is a prime example of the fact that multiple linguistic perspectives focusing on a single issue can contribute to a more thorough comprehension of it than any single perspective is ever able to afford.