Meaning Predictability and Recursion in Onomasiology

Abstract

The following study of recursive naming units sought to test the methods of meaning predictability outlined in Štekauer’s (2005a) onomasiological account of word-formation. One of his experiments was repeated with new naming units according to their onomasiological structure. The naming units with embedded onomasiological structures were selected from the headlines found on online news websites. Štekauer’s own methods proved useful and accurate in assessing the predictability of the naming units for the following study; however, some of Štekauer’s conclusions from his experiment were contradicted by the findings in the study. It was also shown that Štekauer’s theory of onomasiology is capable of accounting for the recursive structures used in this study and that recursion should be considered an integral part of word-formation in onomasiology.