Investigating Lexis

Book excerpt: Lexical research plays a central role in present-day linguistics. Thanks to its ability to combine the traditional humanistic approach with state-of-the-art linguistic theory, it quickly responds to the demands of a constantly changing society, which requires scholars to provide answers to challenges in the field of translation, language teaching and language use. Furthermore, while still dealing with areas like legal language or dictionaries, the parameters of research have expanded to include previously unforeseeable fields, such as video game terminology, code mixing in pop music or the translation of erotic literature. This book shows how researchers are currently responding to these challenges, with a collection of essays representing various aspects of lexicography, combining cutting-edge research with a user-friendly approach. Divided into four major sections (Lexical Theory and Acquisition; Legal Terminology; Dictionaries; and New Challenges), it proves that lexicology, lexicography and terminology are very much at the forefront of current research trends.