Componential analysisapplied to terminology

Life insurance

Terminology method componential analysis

• a method of semantic analysis

• modelled on phonology– isolating the smallest units

• phonology : the phoneme (or phonetic feature)• semantics : the seme (or semantic feature)

pioneered by

POTTIER B. (1992),

Sémantique générale. PUF

Componential analysis for siège

meuble pour s’asseoir

accoudoirs dossier pour une personne

chaise + - + +

fauteuil + + + +

canapé + + + -

tabouret + - - +

implications

• Each semantic feature is made explicit

• by presence (+) or absence (-)

• The difference in meaning between words can be expressed by these features

thus

• Chair is a piece of furniture to sit on [the shared feature for all the words in the group] with a back, without arms and for one person [distinctive features]

• Stool is a piece of furniture to sit on without a back or arms for one person

etc…

Problems?

• language specific – can chairs have arms in English?

• only works for certain semantic fields– footware, means of transport, etc.

• therefore not a very comprehensive method of semantic analysis

• but particularly appropriate for regulated fields (i.e. certain terminologies)

Using componential analysis for terminology

• Certain fields of terminology can be adequatedly analysed using componential analysis– Manufactured items– Tertiary fields where categories are often

implicit• such as insurance

Example: analysing the classes of life insurance

• extract from a textbook used for first-year students in insurance in Australia

Elements of Law and Insurance, Australian Insurance Institute

Insurances of the PersonThere are three main types of cover which insure a person as distinct from a person's property. In principle, these types of insurance provide benefits in the advent of a person's retirement, death or loss of income resulting from an accident or illness. More specifically, the covers are as follows.

Life InsuranceThe most basic contracts are: … “

Whole of life insurance

• The policy benefits of whole of life insurance are payable on the death of the life insured whenever this occurs. Premiums are payable for the entire life or, upon payment of an extra premium. Premiums may cease at say 60 or 65 years, the age of retirement [sic].

Endowment insurance

• This is a combination of term insurance and pure endowment, the policy proceeds being payable upon the death of the life insured within the specified period, or at the end of that period, say ten, 15, 20, 25 or 30 years, if the life insured survives until the end of the period.

Pure endowment insurance

• This is the same as endowment insurance except that no death cover is provided. In the event of the death of the person insured before the policy term expires there is usually a refund of premiums with interest. This cover is normally used for people who are not medically acceptable for a cover which includes death.

Term insurance

• Under a term insurance policy the benefits are payable upon the death of the life insured, provided that death occurs within a specified period. If the life insured survives to the end of the period the cover ceases and no benefits are payable.

Confused…?

• Each definition is drafted differently

• Understanding one definition may depend on having understood the others

• Which information is necessary to understand the difference between the four sorts of life insurance listed?

• Which can be considered ‘background’ information?

Solution ?

• Componential analysis is your friend!

– Extract each feature from the definitions– Find the common feature (which will be the

hyperonym)– Find all the other features– Determine by comparison which are defining

features and which are redundant.

Features of term insurance

• Under a term insurance policy the benefits are payable upon the death of the life insured, provided that death occurs within a specified period. If the life insured survives to the end of the period the cover ceases and

no benefits are payable. – semes/features:

• a life insurance policy• benefits payable on death of insured• death must occur within specified period• if not, no benefits!

Features of whole of life insurance

• The policy benefits of whole of life insurance are payable on the death of the life insured whenever this occurs. Premiums are payable for the entire life or, upon payment of an extra premium, premiums may cease at say 60 or 65 years, the age of retirement.

– semes/features • a life insurance policy ? (not stated explicitly)

• benefits payable on death of insured• death can occur at any time• therefore there is always a payment of benefits• age(s) when paying premiums may cease

with componential analysis

LifeA death spec p insured alive ? premiums medical

Term + + + -

Whole + + - - ?

Pure E + - + + ?

Endowm+ +/- +/- +/-

Definitions derived from the table

• Term insurance

– life insurance (policy) which pays benefits on the death of the insured within a specified period

endowment

• life insurance which pays benefits if the assured dies within a set period or at the end of the same period if the insured is still alive

pure endowment

• life insurance which provides benefits at the end of a specified period, provided the insured is still alive

whole of life

• life insurance (policy) which pays benefits on the death of the insured, whenever this occurs

Componential analysis

• helps us to– understand the relations between concepts– identify additional information necessary to

distinguish concepts– draft immediately comparable definitions– identify other features which may be relevant

in other contexts• Eg. how and when premiums are paid for whole of

life insurance