Linguists Flashcards
Jespersen, “The Philosophy of Grammar”
- Nouns are more special and complex than adjectives. Adjectives = 1 quality, v. Nouns = many features.
> Substantivized adj: meaning always more special (x- the Blacks, evergreens, sweets…)
> Substantive becoming an adjective: less special and can be applied to different things (x- chief, choice, level…)
Bally (French linguist)
Susbtantivizing an adjective = the noun is more familiar and affectionate.
x- He is a bore
You’re a dear v. You’re dear
Langacker, “Nouns and verbs”
Cognitive linguistics
Langacker rejects the idea that meaning is independent from human perception.
Cognitive linguistics: recognizeing the reole of perception in the construction of meaning.
What does the use of noun involve for Langacker?
Noun involves a degree of reification.
What does Langacker thinks of notional definitions of nouns?
Not possible: not only physical objects. He rejects the possibility of a notional definition.
Langacker: 4 distinguishing features btw count and mass nouns
1) Bounding: a noun is a region within a domain. CN are bounded (time, space…)
2) Homogeneity: mass nouns are either continuous (air, water), or constituted of individual particles that are basically identical (cattle, sand). OR can also be conceived homogeneity (furniture).
Count nouns are heterogeneous (because bounded).
3) Expansibility/contractibility: because of its conceived homogeneity, the substance of a mass noun can be expanded or contracted indefinitely without affecting its class membership = any portion of the mass is valid.
x- water VS tail -> cat
4) Replicability: because they are bounded, count nouns can only increase by the addition of discrete instances (two hammers). Mass nouns are non-replicable (no plural form) because they have no limits, indefinitely expansible. Increase does not create a second distinct entity, but makes the first one larger.
Lyons, approche ontologique
1st order entities = things, so nouns 2nd order entities = processes, so verbs BUT problematic (even though works sometimes): x- the beautiful; to go for a walk/run.
Wierzbicka’s main thesis in “The Semantics of Grammar”
Main thesis: nouns differ in meaning from adjectives & the 2 classes differ in the kind of semantic structure.
Wierzbicka: the difference btw nouns and adjectives
Description versus categorization (cripple v. sick)
- Nouns: x- cripple = condition in question (being crippled) is not only seen as permanent, but it is highly visible, noticeable → indicates a categorization.
- Adjectives: sick = a temporary state → indicates a mere description, a number of characteristics.
Wierzbicka and the notion of “kind”
Most nouns identify a certain kind of person/thing/animal. The meaning of a noun cannot be reduced to a set of features because the basic function of a noun is to single out a certain KIND.
Langacker quote on extensibility/contractibility
“Any subpart of a substance is a valid instance of the category”
Wines = different sorts of wine. Name?
Sortal nouns
Passage from count noun to mass noun
“Universal grinder”, Pelletier 1975
Reversal of universal grinder =
Universal salter (Bunt, 1981) = wines, change in QLT, variety Universal packager (Bach, 1986) = to have a coffee, change in QNT
Cherchia
All mass nouns are actually plurals (sand, grass, cargo, luggage). Morphologically strange simply.
