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    Categorization: Denotation

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    Julia Tam
    This document discusses classical categorization versus prototype theory. Classical categorization defines categories based on necessary and sufficient properties shared by all members. Prototype theory argues some members are better exemplars than others. Evidence shows people rate robins as better examples of "bird" than chickens. Categories have a basic level like "dog" that is most representative. While penguins are birds, they are not prototypical examples.

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    Categorization: Denotation

    Uploaded by

    Julia Tam
    28 views4 pages
    This document discusses classical categorization versus prototype theory. Classical categorization defines categories based on necessary and sufficient properties shared by all members. Prototype theory argues some members are better exemplars than others. Evidence shows people rate robins as better examples of "bird" than chickens. Categories have a basic level like "dog" that is most representative. While penguins are birds, they are not prototypical examples.

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    Prototype vs Classical Theory of Categorization

    Original Title

    Categorization

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    This document discusses classical categorization versus prototype theory. Classical categorization defines categories based on necessary and sufficient properties shared by all members. Prototype theory argues some members are better exemplars than others. Evidence shows people rate robins as better examples of "bird" than chickens. Categories have a basic level like "dog" that is most representative. While penguins are birds, they are not prototypical examples.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    28 views4 pages

    Categorization: Denotation

    Uploaded by

    Julia Tam
    This document discusses classical categorization versus prototype theory. Classical categorization defines categories based on necessary and sufficient properties shared by all members. Prototype theory argues some members are better exemplars than others. Evidence shows people rate robins as better examples of "bird" than chickens. Categories have a basic level like "dog" that is most representative. While penguins are birds, they are not prototypical examples.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 4

    Categorization

    Classical view vs.


    Prototype Theory

    Denotation: Point to particular


    things or individuals
    Proper names: Obama, Washington,
    Prospect Street, Peerless
    Pronouns: I, you, she, it
    definite article, demonstrative article,
    possessive article + noun:
    the sun, this student, those books,
    my computer, our class

    Connotations: have meanings


    Common nouns
    typically designate categories of things or
    beings
    books, students, chairs
    can even designate activities and abstract
    things:
    running, reading, freedom, ideas

    Classical Categorization
    1. Categories are defined by the properties
    that all its members share
    (e.g. fish {scales, fins, gills})
    2. The properties are sufficient [for defining
    a category] and necessary [for including
    any entity within the category]

    Consequence of the classical view:


    All members of a category, because they
    share the identical set of properties, are
    equali.e. no member is more significant
    than any other.
    Example: mammals: {tigers, kangaroos,
    platypuses}

    Prototype Theory
    Some entities are better exemplars of a
    category than other members of that
    category.
    Example: mammals: a tiger is a more
    typical mammal than a kangaroo or a
    platypus
    Because of these asymmetries, all members
    of a category are not equal.

    Evidence for prototype effects


    Direct rating: Subjects are asked to rate (from 1 to
    10) how good is an example of a category.
    bird: {a robin, a chicken, a vulture}
    chair: {a desk chair, a barber chair, a beanbag
    chair, an electric chair}
    Reaction times: Subjects press a button to indicate
    true or false.
    Is a chicken a bird?
    Is a coyote a bird?
    Is a sparrow a bird?
    Production of examples: When asked to list or draw
    category members, subjects are more likely to
    produce the more representative examples.

    In or out of a category?
    Category bird:
    In: {sparrows, robins, ducks, penguins,
    ostriches}
    Out: {bat, butterfly}
    Note: {penguins} are in the category bird but are
    not prototypical

    ICC Case
    Is a dressed eviscerated chicken a
    manufactured product?
    Question: Does a dressed eviscerated
    chicken belong to the category of
    manufactured product?
    Agriculture says nonot in the category
    ICC says yes in the category but not
    necessarily prototypical

    Basic-Level Effects
    Superordinate
    Basic level
    Subordinate

    mammal
    platypus
    German
    shepherd

    dog

    poodle

    tiger
    golden
    retriever

    bulldog

    Primacy of the Basic Level


    The highest level where members have
    similarly perceived shapes
    The highest level where one can have a
    single mental image
    The level with the most commonly used labels
    for the category members
    The first level named and understood by
    children
    The level most accessible to secondlanguage learners.

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