Most accounts of categorization assume the categorization decision for an item to be independent of the categorization decisions for other items. A number of methods are brought to bear on the question of whether this assumption is justified. These methods involve the application of a formal categorization model that explicitly incorporates the independence assumption to categorization data and...

Categories are not invariant. This paper attempts to explore the dynamic nature of semantic category, in particular, that of fashion language, based on the cognitive theory of Dawkins’ memetics, a new theory of cultural evolution. Semantic attributes of linguistic memes decrease or proliferate in replication and spreading, which involves a dynamic development of semantic category. More specific...