Semantic-Lexical Dynamics in Linguistic Simplification: Semantic Relations in Leichte Sprache Texts

Abstract

This article investigates semantic relations in linguistic adaptations from Standard German to Leichte Sprache (LS), a simplified variety designed for cognitive accessibility. While normative and morphosyntactic aspects are well-documented, the semantic-lexical dimension remains under-researched. Consequently, this study examines synonymy, antonymy, hypernymy, hyponymy, meronymy, holonymy, homonymy, and polysemy within a parallel corpus of twenty standard and LS texts. Using qualitative and quantitative approaches, the research identifies usage patterns and distributional frequencies. Findings suggest a redrawing of semantic rules within simplification strategies and discuss the potential impact of these dynamics on interlingual translation involving other simplified varieties.