Machine componential analysis of Bulgarian kinship terminology and more on the problem of multiple solutions

Abstract

Machine componential analysis of Bulgarian kinship terminology and more on the problem of multiple solutionsThe Bulgarian kin terms of reference and address are subjected to componential analysis, using the sophisticated computer program KINSHIP. It is shown that an unconstrained and separate analysis of the two sets of terms yields an astronomical number of alternative componential models for each, threatening to compromise the componential method as a whole. However, after combining the set of reference and the set of address terms into a unitary kin term domain and applying the program to this new enlarged data set, further employing appropriate simplicity criteria on overall features (=dimensions) and components of kin term definitions, yields a unique componential model. This result is evaluated in the context of a famous debate on the problems of multiple solutions of kinship systems. It is concluded that componential analysis properly used is an indispensable tool for revealing the structuring of semantic domains.