Theory of Lexical Gaps

Lexical Gaps

• The theory of lexical gaps provides a way of seeing likely paths that language change may take in the future
• The gaps are words and usages that are not currently used in English but that fit the existing linguistic patterns well
• In the early 20th century the words pap, pip, pop and pup all existed in English in some way or another
• Pep did not, though it would be logical for it to, since it followed the existing patterns
• Eventually it did come into existence, as an abbreviation of pepper to describe having a lot…