lexicalizáció

Lexicalizáció is a linguistic process where a sequence of words or a grammatical construction becomes a single, conventionalized lexical unit, often referred to as a lexicalized expression. This means that the meaning of the entire unit is no longer easily derivable from the individual words composing it, and it functions as a single entry in the mental lexicon.

This phenomenon can occur in various ways. For instance, idioms like "kick the bucket" are fully lexicalized; their meaning of "to die" cannot be understood by looking at "kick," "the," or "bucket" individually. Similarly, phrasal verbs such as "look up" (meaning to find information) are often lexicalized, where the combined meaning is distinct from the separate meanings of "look" and "up."

Grammatical constructions can also become lexicalized. For example, compound words like "keyboard" or "sunflower" are instances of lexicalization where two or more morphemes have fused into a single word with a specific meaning. Collocations, or habitually co-occurring words like "heavy rain" or "make a decision," can also approach lexicalization as their frequent pairing makes them function as a more unified concept. The degree of lexicalization can vary, with some expressions being more opaque and fixed than others. This process is crucial for the efficiency of language, allowing speakers to convey complex ideas with single units rather than lengthy descriptions.