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Preprint . 2025
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
ZENODO
Preprint . 2025
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
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Two Missing Primitives in Contemporary Language Models: Strict Semantic Dominance and Revocable Semantic Dominance

Authors: Evans, Jennifer;

Two Missing Primitives in Contemporary Language Models: Strict Semantic Dominance and Revocable Semantic Dominance

Abstract

This paper extends prior work on semantic instability in large language models by introducing controlled behavioral tests that isolate how semantic authority is assigned and withdrawn under ambiguity. Using a fixed set of polysemous passages, we compare model behavior under two conditions: strict semantic dominance, in which a single interpretation must be preserved globally, and revocable semantic dominance, in which interpretation may change with local context. Across multiple frontier models (GPT 5.2, Claude Sonnet 4.5, and Grok 4.1 Beta), strict dominance consistently produces hallucinated or distorted outputs when local context conflicts with the imposed meaning, while revocable dominance restores coherent interpretation without drift. The contrast demonstrates that contemporary models can execute meaning prioritization and revocation when explicitly instructed, but do not autonomously generate or govern these controls. The findings support the conclusion that semantic prioritization and revocation function as missing primitives in current language model architectures rather than as emergent, self-regulating processes.

Keywords

attention mechanisms, polysemy, Strict semantic dominance, semantic flattening, Revocable semantic dominance, language model coherence, architectural primitives, LLMs, hallucinations, transformer architecture, semantic ambiguity resolution

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selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
0
Average
Average
Average
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