“Parents lie to their children about sex to spare them knowledge they think their children are not ready for, just as their children when they become adolescents, will conceal sexual adventures because the parents won't understand. Lies occur between friends, witness and jury, lawyer and client, salesperson and customer. Lying is such a central characteristic of life that better understanding of it is relevant to almost all human affairs.” (Ekmann 2009:23)
But what is a lie and which features make an utterance becoming a lie?
Two possible theories for a semantic analysis of lie exist, one the one hand the theory of semantic features, and on the other other hand the semantic prototype theory.
This paper will deal with a prototypical analysis of lie.
At first both theories will be shortly explained and it will be explained why the prototype theory is more suitable for the analysis of, than the theory of semantic features. Then a prototype schema for lie, as well as a prototype analysis of lie will be given.
To confirm the general prototype hypothesis, the prototype definition of lie, and other hypotheses that will be made, an experiment of Coleman and Kay will be explained and its results will be analyzed.
To check and confirm the hypotheses of Coleman and Kay again, two fellow students and me did the same experiment within the context of our presentation about linguistic clues to lie detection. The expectations we had and the results will be presented and our results will be compared with that of Coleman and Kay.

Excerpt

Introduction
Theory of semantic features vs. Prototype theory
- Theory of semantic features
- Prototype theory
Prototype schema for lie
Prototype analysis of lie
Experiment
- Prototype analysis of the example stories
- Results Coleman and Kay
- Expectations and results of our experiment
- Comparison of the results of Coleman and Kay and of our experiment
Conclusion

Objectives and Key Themes

This paper aims to analyze the concept of "lie" using prototype theory, comparing it to the theory of semantic features. It investigates the suitability of prototype theory for analyzing the complexities of lying and tests the proposed prototype schema through experimental data.

Comparison of semantic feature theory and prototype theory in analyzing the concept of "lie".
Development and application of a prototype schema for "lie".
Analysis of the concept of "lie" based on the defined prototype schema.
Examination and interpretation of experimental results related to the prototype of "lie".
Comparison of experimental results with existing research.

Chapter Summaries

Introduction: The introduction establishes the central question of defining "lie" and its relevance across various human interactions. It introduces the two main theoretical frameworks – semantic feature theory and prototype theory – that will be used to analyze the concept, highlighting the paper's focus on a prototypical analysis. The introduction also provides a brief overview of the paper's structure and methodology.

Theory of semantic features vs. Prototype theory: This chapter contrasts the theory of semantic features, which defines word meanings through discrete, contrasting properties, with prototype theory, which acknowledges the fuzzy boundaries of semantic categories and allows for degrees of membership. It argues that prototype theory is more appropriate for analyzing "lie" due to its inherent ambiguity and contextual dependence.

Prototype schema for lie: This chapter details the proposed prototype schema for "lie," outlining its key characteristics. The schema includes a checklist of properties, acknowledging that the contribution of each property to the overall degree of "lie-ness" may vary. The chapter emphasizes the graded nature of membership in the category "lie" and rejects the notions of necessity and sufficiency in its definition.

Prototype analysis of lie: This chapter delves into a detailed analysis of the concept of "lie" using the established prototype schema. It critiques simpler definitions, demonstrating why additional elements such as the speaker's belief in the falsehood and intent to deceive are crucial for a comprehensive understanding. The analysis concludes by highlighting how the prototype theory allows for a graded understanding of lying, where utterances might partially qualify as lies based on the degree to which they fulfill the schema's criteria.

Experiment: This section describes an experiment based on Coleman and Kay's work, exploring how people classify various scenarios as lies based on the presence or absence of the three defining elements: falsehood, belief in falsehood, and intent to deceive. The chapter outlines the methodology, presenting example stories designed to test different combinations of these elements. The analysis focuses on the comparison between expected and observed classifications, without presenting specific numerical results or conclusions drawn from the comparison.

Keywords

Lie, prototype theory, semantic features, deception, language, experimental methodology, graded membership, cognitive schema, truth, falsehood, intent.

FAQ: A Prototype Analysis of "Lie"

What is the main topic of this paper?

This paper analyzes the concept of "lie" using prototype theory, comparing it to the theory of semantic features. It investigates the suitability of prototype theory for analyzing the complexities of lying and tests a proposed prototype schema through experimental data.

What are the key theoretical frameworks used in this paper?

The paper primarily uses prototype theory, which acknowledges the fuzzy boundaries of semantic categories and allows for degrees of membership. It contrasts this with the theory of semantic features, which defines word meanings through discrete, contrasting properties. The paper argues that prototype theory is better suited for analyzing the complexities of "lie".

What is a prototype schema, and how is it used in this paper?

A prototype schema outlines the key characteristics of a concept, in this case, "lie". The schema includes a checklist of properties (falsehood, belief in falsehood, intent to deceive), acknowledging that the contribution of each property to the overall "lie-ness" may vary. The paper uses this schema to analyze the concept of "lie" and to guide the experimental design.

What are the key properties considered in the prototype schema for "lie"?

The key properties included in the prototype schema for "lie" are falsehood, the speaker's belief in the falsehood, and the intent to deceive. The paper emphasizes that these properties contribute to a graded understanding of "lie-ness," meaning that an utterance might partially qualify as a lie depending on the degree to which it fulfills these criteria.

What does the experiment involve?

The experiment explores how people classify various scenarios as lies based on the presence or absence of the three defining elements: falsehood, belief in falsehood, and intent to deceive. The methodology involves presenting example stories designed to test different combinations of these elements. The analysis focuses on comparing expected and observed classifications.

How does this paper compare the results of the experiment to previous research?

The paper mentions a comparison to the work of Coleman and Kay, but specific numerical results or conclusions drawn from this comparison are not provided in the summary.

What are the main conclusions of the paper (as summarized)?

The summary does not provide specific conclusions. Instead, it outlines the methodology and theoretical framework used to analyze the concept of "lie" using prototype theory, highlighting the graded nature of "lie-ness" and the importance of considering multiple factors.

What are the key words associated with this paper?