10 Examples of Conceptual Relationships

The conceptual relationships they are connections or associations that are established between concepts (those products of thought that are a representation of something and that allow knowledge about the world). For example: The relationship between the concept "metal" and the concept "lead".

The concepts are formed through an abstraction of an experience that the subject has with reality and are always linked to others in the mind. These links or conceptual relationships allow us to understand and classify objects, phenomena, activities, places, entities, facts or abstract ideas.

In addition, conceptual relationships can form a system in which concepts are organized in different ways according to their characteristics and according to the link they have with others.

Types of conceptual relationships

The concepts are linked to others in different ways, but that does not imply that they can be freely associated, since there are certain conceptual relationships that are possible and others that are not.

There are different classifications of conceptual relations according to different authors. One of them was made by Eugen Wüster and covers two large groups:

• logics. They are those relationships that link concepts that share characteristics or traits and that can be:
  • Verticals. They are relations of subordination between concepts that are at different levels, because there is a generic concept (superordinate or hyperonym) and a specific one (subordinate or hyponym). For example: The relationship between the generic concept "animal" and the specific concept "mammal".
  • horizontal. They are coordination relationships, because they link two concepts that are at the same level. For example: The relationship between the specific concept "mammals" and the specific concept "reptiles".

• ontological. They are those part-whole relationships between concepts and can be:
  • Verticals. They are relations of subordination between a concept, which refers to a whole, and another, which represents a part of the first. For example: The relationship between the concept "house" (all) and "kitchen" (part).
  • horizontal. They are coordination relationships between concepts that represent parts of another, which refers to a whole. For example: The relationship between the concept "kitchen" (part) and the concept "bathroom" (part).

• Causes. They are the relationships that exist between a concept, which is a cause, and another, which is an effect. For example: The relationship between the concept "sun" (cause) and the concept "heat" (effect).
• pragmatics. They are the relationships that exist between concepts that are thematically linked. For example: The relationship between the concept "pencil" and the concept "writing".
• genetics. They are the relationships that exist between a concept, which is a person who produces something, and another, which is what is manufactured. For example: The relationship between the concept "artisan" (producer) and the concept "necklace" (product).
• Of production. They are the relationships that exist between a concept, which is an input, and another, which is a final product. For example: The relationship between the concept "wool" (input) and the concept "sweater" (end product).
• Of transmission. They are the relationships that exist between a concept, which is a person who transmits or gives something, and another, which is an entity that receives something. For example: The relationship between the concept "distributor" (who gives) and "store" (entity that receives).
• Instrumentals. They are the relationships that exist between a concept, which is a tool, and another, which is its use or application. For example: The relationship between the concept "scissors" (tool) and the concept "cut" (use).
• functional. They are the relationships that exist between a concept, which is an argument, and another, which is its function. For example: The relationship between the concept "placement of insulators" (argument) and "thermal insulation" (function).

Examples of conceptual relationships

1. Vertical logical hierarchical conceptual relationships.

• Means of transport (generic concept) – car (specific concept)
• Openings (generic concept) – door (specific concept)
• Chemical elements (generic concept) – hydrogen (specific concept)

1. Horizontal logical hierarchical conceptual relationships.

• Car (specific concept) – bus (specific concept)
• Door (specific concept) – window (specific concept)
• Hydrogen (specific concept) – lithium (specific concept)

1. Vertical ontological hierarchical conceptual relationships.

• Automobile (whole) – steering wheel (part)
• Atom (whole) – proton (part)
• Body (whole) – digestive system (part)

1. Horizontal ontological hierarchical conceptual relationships.

• Steering wheel (part) – seat (part)
• Proton (part) – neutron (part)
• Digestive system (part) – Respiratory system (part)

1. Causal non-hierarchical conceptual relationships.

• Fire (cause) – smoke (effect)
• Virus (cause) – disease (effect)
• Remedy (cause) – good health (effect)

1. pragmatic non-hierarchical conceptual relations.

• Marriage – husband
• Lawyer – justice
• Medical – health

1. Genetic non-hierarchical conceptual relationships.

• Shoemaker (producer) – shoe (product)
• Writer (producer) – book (product)
• Architect (producer) – building (product)

1. Non-hierarchical conceptual relations of production.

• Cotton (input) – shirt (end product)
• Wood (input) – library (end product)
• Steel (input) – fork (end product)

1. Non-hierarchical conceptual relations of transmission.

• Sender (who transmits) – receiver (who receives)
• Postman (who gives) – recipient (who receives)
• Raw material producer (who gives) – industrial manufacturer (who receives)

1. Instrumental non-hierarchical conceptual relations.

• Dosimeter (tool) – measurement of ionizing radiation (use)
• Thermometer (tool) – temperature measurement (use)
• Scalpel (tool) – operation (use)

1. Functional non-hierarchical conceptual relationships.

• Gear cleaning (argument) – correct operation of the machine (function)
• Arrangement of an engine (story) – operation of a car (function)
• Electrical installation (argument) – electricity supply (function)

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