131 Much more than an introduction to the language-specific lexical semantics Igor Marko GLIGORIĆ Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb An exceptional contribution to Croatian linguistics, Slavistics, and undoubtedly linguistics in general, was published by Matrix Croatica (Matica Hrvatska) in 2024. The book, Introduction to Lexical Seman- tics of the Croatian Language (Uvod u leksičku semantiku hrvatsko- ga jezika) by Tatjana Pišković, currently an associate professor at the Department of Croatian Language at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, represents a landmark achievement. The manuscript was reviewed by three distinguished linguists – Maja Bratanić, Branimir Belaj, and Ida Raffaelli – all es- teemed figures in their fields. This book cannot be simply catego- rized as a scientific monograph or a university textbook on lexical se- mantics, as its scope – both in depth and broadness of the approach – surpasses such classifications, moving toward an encyclopaedic treatment of the central topic. In the Preface, the author highlights the complexity of studying meaning, carefully delineating fundamental concepts and the domain explored in the detailed examination and analysis that follows. The various levels at which different branches of linguistic semantics are named overlap with one another (cf. Pišković, 2024, p. 6). This ac- knowledgment underscores the author’s awareness that semantics Gligorić, I. M.: Much more than an introduction to the language-specific lexical semantics. Slovenščina 2.0, 12(1): 131–137. 1.19 Recenzija, prikaz knjige, kritika / Review, book review, critique DOI: https://doi.org/10.4312/slo2.0.2024.1.131-137 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ 132 Slovenščina 2.0, 2024 (1) | Poročila resists rigid boundaries far more than grammar does. Consequently, the phenomena analysed and interpreted cannot be classified with equal clarity and precision. Pišković identifies this very fact as one reason why certain linguistic approaches have entirely distanced themselves from meaning. However, the author recognizes this area as a space that can and should inspire curiosity and creativity, as she describes it as something that “liberates and delights” (ibid.). Pišković views lexical semantics as the study of word mean- ings, which can, to some extent, be contrasted with morphology, the study of word forms. The book is structured into two main parts: the first provides a Brief History of Lexical Semantics (Kratka povijest leksičke semantike), while the second analyses the Basic Topics in Lexical Semantics (Osnovne teme leksičke semantike). It is worth noting that the Brief History of Lexical Semantics could per- haps have been expanded – though this is not a critique – yet it still includes all significant elements relevant to the diachronic develop- ment of this linguistic discipline. On the other hand, in the section on Basic Topics in Lexical Semantics, the author explores funda- mental concepts and lexical-semantic relations. However, her ap- proach, supported by examples that substantiate her conclusions and illustrate lexical-semantic phenomena, opens up much more complex and broader considerations of lexical semantics than the term “basic” might imply. As indicated by the title, the first part of the book offers a brief history of lexical semantics. Drawing on relevant scholars, Pišković di- vides the history of lexical semantics into five major periods. She ex- plains that the focus is on illustrating the beginnings and foundations of each approach discussed, rather than recent or specialized studies within these frameworks. This method of presenting theoretical foun- dations is both understandable and justified, particularly given the book’s primary purpose. Despite the deliberate exclusion of detailed analyses of each ap- proach to word meaning mentioned, the first part of the Introduction exceeds readers’ expectations. Pišković provides a chronological and causal description of pre-structuralist diachronic semantics, structur- alist semantics, generative semantics, neo-structuralist semantics, 133 Much more than an introduction to the language-specific lexical semantics and cognitive semantics, offering readers a clear diachronic overview of the study of word meaning. She highlights, discusses, and illustrates the approaches of M. Bréal and H. Paul, classifies semantic changes, and identifies some of the lasting contributions of pre-structuralist diachronic semantics, including those in a Croatian context. She also extensively explores structuralist critiques of pre-structuralism, the theory of lexical fields, as well as European and American componen- tial analysis. Separate subsections are devoted to relational seman- tics and the general contributions of structuralist semantics, with a specific focus on those in Croatian. The clarity and methodology em- ployed in the first two subsections reveal the author’s consistent ap- proach throughout the text. In the subsection on generative semantics, Pišković correctly identifies the dominance of syntax over semantics during this period. She examines Katzian semantics, generative and interpretative se- mantics, and the contributions inherited from this era. Regarding neo- structuralist semantics, she systematically analyses two perspectives: the neo-structuralist componential approach to lexical meaning and the relational approach. The former includes subsections on natural semantic metalanguage, conceptual semantics, two-level semantics, and generative lexicon theory. The further chapters consider Word- Net, meaning-text theory, and corpus-based distributional analysis. As with the other sections, Pišković concludes this part by identifying neo-structuralist semantic influences in Croatian. When discussing cognitive semantics, Pišković observes the blurring of boundaries between meaning and usage, that is, the boundaries traditionally embodied in the distinction between se- mantics and pragmatics. She analyses core concepts of cognitive linguistics, including prototype theory, conceptual metaphor and metonymy, and conceptual integration. She also examines various structures of encyclopaedic knowledge within cognitive semantics, such as the idealized cognitive model and frame semantics. Follow- ing her established methodology, Pišković also explores cognitive semantics in Croatian. The final subsection considers the development of lexical se- mantics as cyclical. The author notes that the first three subsections 134 Slovenščina 2.0, 2024 (1) | Poročila follow one another chronologically, while the last two emerge si- multaneously with the third. She also emphasizes that all these ap- proaches still coexisted at the time of writing this book, which she explicitly states (ibid.: 153). The Preface makes it clear that the first part of the book serves to justify the theoretical and methodologi- cal choices made in the second part (ibid.: 7). Furthermore, it an- nounces that all the mentioned approaches will be integrated into an understanding of lexical-semantic concepts, a promise that is consistently fulfilled. The second part of this encyclopaedic publication is motivated by what Pišković describes as propaedeutic practice. It begins with the definition of key terms such as word, lexeme, and lexicon, as well as lexical meaning and traditionally recognized lexical-semantic rela- tions and phenomena. In the first chapter of the second part, the concepts of words, lexemes, grammar, and lexicons are examined from various perspec- tives. The author questions the division into open and closed word classes, distinguishes lexicon, lexical inventory, and dictionary, and discusses the status of lexemes in the dictionary and the concept of listemes. The second chapter is dedicated to lexical meaning. The author attempts to define it in terms of meaning alone, then in terms of lexi- cal and pragmatic meaning. Various triadic models – models of lexi- cal triangles – are illustrated and commented upon. Attention is then focused on different types of lexical meaning and the metalexical as- pect, where Pišković addresses the issue of defining words, lexemes, and lexical meaning. As the author herself notes in the Preface (ibid.: 7), the central chapter is devoted to polysemy. The chapter begins with defining this, offering not only definitions but also thoughtful interpretations of the reasons and mechanisms behind lexical polysemy. Highlighting the cognitive basis of polysemy, she particularly addresses the mecha- nisms of polysemy: lexical metaphor, lexical metonymy, and lexical synecdoche. It is especially worth emphasizing the examples provid- ed by the author, as well as her original and clear distinction between metonymy and synecdoche within the cognitive-linguistic framework. 135 Much more than an introduction to the language-specific lexical semantics The next subsection deals with homonymy. It is important to note that, methodologically, homonymy is consistently contrasted with polysemy, with the often-blurred boundaries and the relationship be- tween polysemy and homonymy in lexicography and psycholinguistics being highlighted. The discussion – faithfully following the principles of scientific elaboration – is preceded by a problematization of the origin of homonyms. The next subsection is dedicated to what many consider one of the prototypical lexical-semantic – i.e. conceptual – relations: an- tonymy. It is discussed as a perfect lexical-semantic relation (ibid: 391–395). As readers might expect from the earlier elaboration of semantic concepts, Pišković offers a dual classification of antonyms: morphological and semantic. Moreover, she does not disappoint more demanding readers by examining the relationship between polysemy and polyantonymy. On the other hand, synonymy is addressed. Understandably, it is defined as an imperfect lexical-semantic relation. Again, the author adheres to a consistent methodological framework. Within this, she identifies synonymy as a graded category or phenomenon, distin- guishing various levels of synonymity. More or less predictably – de- pending on the reader’s profile – explanations are provided for the relationships between polysemy and polysynonymy, synonymy and the dictionary, and synonymy and paronymy. The hierarchy of lexical units is examined in two chapters: one on hyponymy and the other on meronymy. In discussing hyponymy, Pišković analyses lexical hierarchy and lexical inclusion, taxonomy, and other types of hyponymic relations. Here, taxonomy is understood as a representative example of hyponymy. The author also explores the phenomena of quasi-hypoymy, polysemy, and polyhyponymy, as well as the relationship between hyponymy and the dictionary. The final chapter is dedicated to meronymy. Partonomy and oth- er types of meronymic relations are central to the discussion of this lexical-semantic relation. Similarly to the discussion on hyponymy, quasi-meronymy is specifically analysed and illustrated, with par- ticular attention being paid to its similarity to quasi-hyponymy. The chapter concludes with definitions and examples of automeronymy, 136 Slovenščina 2.0, 2024 (1) | Poročila supermeronymy, and polymeronymy, as well as an analysis of the re- lationship between meronymy and the dictionary. At the end of the book, there is an extensive bibliography. The book also includes an index of names and terms, followed by a note about the author. In the Preface, the author notes that the book is partly an in- troductory work, designed as a university textbook – a manual for teachers and students, a book intended to benefit each of these two target groups in a way that meets their specific needs and expecta- tions. However, it is clear that Pišković’s latest work goes beyond the framework of a university textbook or scientific monograph, and is much more than that. The interesting and contemporary examples, with which the author makes her highly professional and linguistical- ly articulated text more accessible to readers, are a notable strength of this publication. Additionally, the book consistently considers dic- tionary definitions of lexemes and their concrete usage, balancing these two aspects of the linguistic nature of language units. A review of a book like Introduction to the Lexical Semantics of the Croatian Language (Uvod u leksičku semantiku hrvatskoga jezika) could be written in at least two ways. Here, we could have highlighted the most interesting and important elements according to subjective judgment. However, we chose to present the entirety and broadness encompassed by Pišković’s 615 pages of original content. While we acknowledge that this approach might seem less precise – and it surely is at some extent – we consider cataloguing the topics covered by the author in her book to be far more important. This reflects the totality of the author’s knowledge of lexical se- mantics, her outstanding understanding of concepts and her abil- ity to navigate the field she writes about, and thus interested read- ers will not be disappointed by the book. The target audience is primarily Crostists, Slavists, linguists and students of these (philo- logical) studies. However, given the nature of meaning as not only a linguistic category, Pišković’s work will also enlighten readers who view the linguistic formations of conceptual material differently: sociologically, anthropologically, philosophically, psychologically, and so on, or simply in a practical way, as users of language. This 137 Much more than an introduction to the language-specific lexical semantics monographic-textbook-encyclopaedic work will thus find its audience in the most diverse reader groups, who will find much to discover, learn and consider between its covers. Reference Pišković, T. (2024). Uvod u leksičku semantiku hrvatskoga jezika. Za- greb: Matica hrvatska.