Lexicon

Lexicon refers to the inventory of words in a language and the set of structural rules that make up its grammar, that is, its semantics, phonology, morphology, syntax, and pragmatics. When the lexicon is assumed to relate to a core cognitive function in humans, it is called the mental lexicon. The mental lexicon is responsible for the activation, storage, processing, and retrieval of words and their use in utterances with language-specific word sequences. As a result, the mental lexicon is the primary catalyst for language use and acquisition, permitting meaningful communication between speakers of the same language. Several theoretical models in linguistics assess its function and organization differentiating between adult and child-developmental lexicon, as well as between monolingual and bilingual lexicon. The lexicon plays a ...