Facing the theory of semantic profiles: New possibilities of dictionary explanation of names of body parts
Abstract
In the first part the article gives a survey of the main concepts of the theory of semantic profiles developed by Polish linguists and adapted in Czech-based research of names of body parts. The semantic profile is understood as a variation of the conception of the interpreted object. Four main basic profiles of concepts concerning body parts are set down:
1) APPEARANCE (properties perceivable by all senses);
2) LOCATION (awareness of location of the body part and its orientation to the surroundings);
3) FUNCTION (use of the body part in everyday interaction with the world);
4) GESTURE (use of the body part in gestures). The second part of the article is the case study of Czech čelo (forehead) and shows the possibility how to apply the theory of semantic profiles in the dictionary explanation of meaning. The article should be considered as the platform for the ongoing research of Czech names of body parts and for the planned project of the Czech conceptual dictionary.