ABSTRACT
MANYanthropologistshavebeenattractedby proceduresofformalsemantics,suchascomponentialanalysis,andsomehavenotedthe possibilityofalternativesolutions.Tomy knowledge,however,nonehavegivenconsiderationtothetotalnumberofalternativesolutionsthatarelogicallypossible,andtothe implicationsofthatnumberfortheproblemof indeterminacy,andtotheimplicationsofindeterminacyforsemanticanalysis.Componentialanalysisisappliedtoasetoftermswhich formaculturallyrelevantdomainandproceeds byrecognizingsemanticdistinctions(components)whichapportionthetermsofthesetinto contrastingsub-sets,suchthateveryitemis distinguishedfromeveryotheritembyatleast onecomponent.Subsetscanbearrivedatin manyalternativeways,however,andinthe followingdiscussionIwillfirstconsiderthe widenumberofpossiblechoices(11).ThenI willconsidertherelationofthenumberof possibilitiestothe"cognitive"statusofsolu-
FromA m e r i c a n A n t h r o p o l o g i s t , 66:20-28;with commentsbyDellH.HymesandCharles0.Frake andarejoinderbyRobbinsBurling,A m e r i c a n A n - t h r o p o l o g i s t , 66:116-122.Reprintedbypermission ofthepublisherandtheauthors.RobbinsBurling isAssociateProfessorofAnthropology,University ofMichigan.DellH.HymesisProfessorofAnthropology,UniversityofPennsylvania,andCharles0. FrakeisAssociateProfessorofAnthropology,StanfordUniversity.
