meginnotkun

Meginnotkun is a term used in Icelandic linguistics and lexicography to denote the primary usage of a word or expression in a language or corpus. It identifies the most common sense or the principal grammatical function that the form performs in ordinary communication, distinguishing it from secondary or less frequent senses. The concept helps researchers compare usage patterns across genres and over time.

Etymology: The word combines megin- meaning “main” or “principal” and notkun meaning “use.” The term is used in Icelandic linguistic literature to label the dominant meaning or function of a form.

Applications: In dictionaries, meginnotkun guides sense ordering and marks the core meaning. In corpus studies, it labels the dominant sense in data; in language teaching, it focuses on the most frequent usage. It also informs translation decisions and automatic sense disambiguation in natural language processing.

Determination and caveats: Meginnotkun is not fixed; it can vary by domain, register, dialect, and time. It is typically estimated from large corpora and expert judgment, and may differ between dictionaries or studies. Users should treat it as a referential aid rather than an unwavering classification.

See also:

- Primary sense

- Lexicography

- Polysemy

- Disambiguation