The Adjectival Category

Criteria for differentiation and identification

D.N.S. Bhat

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ISBN 9781556193767 (USA) | USD 173.00

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This monograph sets out (i) to establish criteria for differentiating adjectives from other word-classes for languages in which they form a distinct category, and (ii) to establish criteria for determining their (non-)identity with words from other categories for languages in which they do not. As languages show various gradations in the extent to which adjectives can be distinguished from other word-classes, the author discusses idealized language types, thereby providing a model for the analysis of natural languages. The book argues that adjectives do not uniformly show all differentiating characteristics and that these characteristics are semantically relevant and functionally motivated: for instance, when word-classes are used in functions not their own, they manifest characteristics of the categories to which the relevant functions belong. The second part of the book discusses three distinct idealized languages types without a distinct adjectival category in which “property words” remain undifferentiated from (i) nouns, (ii) verbs, and (iii) nouns as well as verbs. These three types are shwon to represent gradations of distinctions between word-classes as they occur in natural languages and to manifest various degrees of the corresponding functional neutralizations. In the final chapter the wider theoretical implications of this work for the study of categories are discussed.

[Studies in Language Companion Series, 24] 1994. xiii, 295 pp.

Publishing status: Available

https://doi.org/10.1075/slcs.24

Table of Contents

Preface | p. xi

List of abbreviations | p. xiii

1. Introduction | p. 1

Part One Adjectives as a Distinct Category

2. Criteria for differentiation | p. 10

2.1 Introduction
2.2 Notion of prototypicality
2.3 Need for multiple criteria
2.4 Interconnectedness among the criteria
2.5 Differentiating characteristics
2.6 Primary and secondary uses
2.7 Nature of supporting evidence

3. Differentiation from nouns | p. 23

3.1 Introduction
3.2 Denoting a single property
3.3 Giving prominence to property itself
3.4 Being part of a unified entity
3.5 Inflectional differences
3.6 Denoting a distinct semantic prototype

4. Differentiation from verbs | p. 43

4.1 Introduction
4.2 Claims about similarity
4.3 Difference in categorial usage
4.4 Difference in dependency status
4.5 Difference in the scope of modification
4.6 Difference in temporal status

5. Differentiation from adverbs | p. 67

5.1 Introduction
5.2 Heterogeniety of adverbs
5.3 Similarities between adjectives and adverbs
5.4 Difference in categorial use
5.5 Difference in dependency status
5.6 Difference in semantic prototypes

6. Decategorization of adjectives | p. 91

6.1 Introduction
6.2 Decategorization in nominal use
6.3 Decategorization in predicative use
6.4 Decategorization in adverbial use
6.5 Decategorization in compounding

7. Decategorization of other word classes | p. 119

7.1 Introduction
7.2 Decategorization of nouns
7.3 Decategorization of verbs
7.4 Decategorization of adverbs
Part Two Adjectives as Parts of Other Categories

8. Criteria for identification | p. 151

8.1 Introduction
8.2 Separation of categoriality
8.3 Notion of lexicalization
8.4 Relevance of semantic factors
8.5 Basis for non-lexicalization
8.6 Functional explanation for variability
8.7 Need to establish idealized language types

9. Identification with nouns | p. 165

9.1 Introduction
9.2 Dependency status in a noun phrase
9.3 Basic and extended uses
9.4 Semantic prototypes
9.5 Basis for gradation

10. Identification with verbs | p. 187

10.1 Introduction
10.2 Occurrence in predicative position
10.3 Occurrence in adnominal position
10.4 Modification and presupposed predication
10.5 Differentiating characteristics

11. Identification with nouns and verbs | p. 211

11.1 Introduction
11.2 Criteria for identification
11.3 Possibility of “norm” connections
11.4 Difference in temporal status
11.5 Difference in relationality
11.6 Derivational differences
11.7 Reference and predication
11.8 Distinction in modification
11.9 Distinction in semantic prototypes
11.10 Differentiating characteristics

12. Theoretical implications | p. 245

12.1 Categoriality of adjectives
12.2 Evaluation of mixed-category claim
12.3 Evaluation of X-bar theory
12.4 Need to recognize different strategies

Index of subjects | p. 287

Index of names | p. 293

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[no author supplied]

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This list is based on CrossRef data as of 26 september 2024. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.

Subjects

Linguistics

Semantics

Theoretical linguistics

Syntax

Main BIC Subject

CF: Linguistics

Main BISAC Subject

LAN009000: LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES / Linguistics / General

ONIX Metadata

ONIX 2.1

ONIX 3.0

U.S. Library of Congress Control Number: 94011533 | Marc record