ABSTRACT

In this paper, I present data involving the use of the Romanian slur ‘țigan’, consideration of which leads to the postulation of a sui-generis, irreducible type of use of slurs (‘identificatory’). This type of use is potentially problematic for extant theories of slurs. In addition, together with other well-established uses (derogatory, appropriated etc.), it shows that there is more variation in the use of slurs than previously acknowledged. I explain this variation by construing slurs as polysemous. To implement this idea, I appeal to a rich-lexicon account of polysemy. I show how such a theory can be applied to slurs and discuss several important issues that arise.

摘要

在本文中，我提供了涉及使用罗马尼亚语的诽谤“țigan”的数据，考虑到这些数据导致了一种特殊的、不可简化的诽谤使用类型（“识别”）的假设。对于现有的诽谤理论，这种类型的使用可能存在问题。此外，连同其他公认的用途（贬义、挪用等），它表明诽谤的使用比以前承认的要多。我通过将诽谤解释为多义词来解释这种变化。为了实现这个想法，我求助于多义词的丰富词典。我展示了如何将这样的理论应用于诽谤并讨论出现的几个重要问题。