Profile/base organization
We noted earlier that lexical concepts (the meanings associated with words) are understood with respect to a domain matrix. In other words, lexical concepts are typically understood with respect to a number of domains, organised in a network. One consequence of this claim is that, as we have already seen, a word provides a point of access to the entire knowledge inventory associated with a particular lexical concept. However, if we assume that a domain matrix under lies each lexical concept, then we need to explain why different facets of the encyclopaedic knowledge network are differentially important in the understanding of that concept. For example, consider the word hypotenuse. The lexical concept behind this word relates to the longest side of a right-angled tri angle, which is illustrated in Figure 7.6. In this diagram, the hypotenuse is the side of the triangle in bold type labelled A.
While hypotenuse provides a point of access to a potentially infinite knowledge inventory, relating to RIGHT-ANGLED TRIANGLES, TRIANGLES in general, GEO METRIC FIGURES, GEOMETRIC CALCULATION, SPACE and so on, only part of this knowledge network is essential for an understanding of the meaning of the lexical concept. Langacker suggests an explanation for this in terms of scope, profile and base. The essential part of the knowledge network is called the scope of a lexical concept. The scope of a lexical concept is subdivided into two aspects, both of which are indispensable for understanding what the word means. These are the profile and its base, which we first introduced in Chapter 5. The profile is the entity or relation designated by the word, and the base is the essential part of the domain matrix necessary for understanding the profile. In the case of our example hypotenuse, this word profiles or designates the longest side in a right angled-triangle, while the base is the entire triangle, including all three of its sides. Without the base, the profile would be meaningless: there is no hypotenuse without a right-angled triangle. Hence, the word hypotenuse designates a particular substructure within a larger conceptual structure. As Langacker explains it, ‘The semantic value of an expression resides in neither the base nor the profile alone, but only in their combination’ (Langacker 1987: 183).
One consequence of the profile/base relation is that the same base can provide different profiles. Consider Figure 7.7, which depicts a CIRCLE. This base can give rise to numerous profiles, including ARC (Figure 7.7(a)), RADIUS (Figure 7.7(b)), DIAMETER (Figure 7.7(c)), CIRCUMFERENCE (Figure 7.7(d)), and so on.
Now let’s consider a more complex example. The word uncle profiles an entity with a complex domain matrix. This includes at least the following abstract domains: GENEALOGY, PERSON, GENDER, SEXUAL INTERCOURSE, BIRTH, LIFE CYCLE, PARENT/CHILD RELATIONSHIP, SIBLING RELATIONSHIP, EGO. The base for the lexical concept UNCLE is the conceived network of FAMILIAL RELATIONS represented in Figure 7.8. Against this base, uncle profiles an entity related to the EGO by virtue of being a MALE SIBLING of EGO’s mother or father.
