Linguistic Category Model (LCM)

The linguistic category model (LCM), which classifies predicates on a scale from abstract to concrete, is a tool for systematic analysis of language. It has been used extensively to analyze not only [Page 536]communication in experimental settings but also newspaper editorials and transcripts of current and historical court cases. The availability of the LCM opens novel ways of analyzing written and spoken language in communication by clarifying the processes driving linguistic choices in formulating messages and the impact of these messages on recipients. This entry begins by explaining the language processes underlying the model, and then discusses how the model works and some research applications.