Premodifiers in English: Their Structure and Significance (Studies in English Language)

Premodifiers in English......Page 2
STUDIES IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE......Page 3
Title......Page 6
Copyright......Page 7
Contents......Page 8
Acknowledgements......Page 11
Figures......Page 12
1.1 The need for this book......Page 14
1.2 The approach followed here, to fill the need......Page 16
1.3 Core of the account to be given......Page 17
1.5 Outline of the book......Page 18
1.6 Further significance of the explanation to be given......Page 19
1.7 Conventions to be used......Page 20
2.2.1.1 Four zones of premodification......Page 21
2.2.1.2 The nature of premodification zones......Page 23
i Premodification zones form a grammatically set order......Page 24
iv Zones affect modification structure......Page 25
v The same word may occur in different zones......Page 27
vii Zone order constitutes premodifier order......Page 29
2.2.2.1 Determining what zone a modifier is in......Page 30
2.2.2.2 Whether a premodifier can be on the borderline between zones......Page 31
2.3 Types of order......Page 32
2.4.3 Prospect: the chapters to follow......Page 34
3.1.1 Purpose and outline of the chapter......Page 36
3.1.2.1 Introduction......Page 37
i Naming: referential meaning......Page 38
ii Descriptive meaning......Page 39
iii Expressive meaning......Page 40
v Grammatical meaning......Page 41
vi Discussion......Page 42
3.1.2.3 Dimensions of descriptive meaning......Page 43
3.1.2.4 Conclusion: types and dimensions of meaning......Page 45
3.1.3 Data......Page 46
3.1.4 Word histories......Page 47
3.1.5 Conclusion to the introduction......Page 49
3.2.2 Grammatical meaning in Classifiers......Page 50
3.2.3.1 Quality dimension......Page 51
3.2.4.1 Perceptual meaning......Page 53
3.2.4.3 Intensity dimension: gradability......Page 54
3.2.4.4 Discussion of descriptive meaning of Classifiers......Page 55
3.2.5 Expressive and social meaning in Classifiers......Page 56
3.2.6 Discussion of Classifier meaning......Page 57
3.3.2 Referential meaning in Descriptors......Page 58
3.3.3.2 Conceptual meaning......Page 60
3.3.3.3 Intensity dimension: gradability......Page 61
3.3.6.1 Descriptors’ part of speech......Page 62
3.3.6.2 Sense relations......Page 63
3.3.7 Conclusion: the semantic structure of Descriptors......Page 64
3.4.2.2 Conceptual meaning......Page 65
3.4.2.3 Intensity dimension: gradability and scalarity......Page 66
3.4.2.5 Conclusion to descriptive meaning......Page 70
3.4.3.3 Expressive meaning: general......Page 71
3.4.4 Social meaning in Epithets......Page 73
3.4.5 Grammatical meaning in Epithets......Page 74
3.4.6.1 Epithets’ part of speech......Page 75
3.4.6.3 Borderline instances of Epithets......Page 77
3.5.1 Introduction......Page 78
3.5.3 Expressive meaning in Reinforcers......Page 79
3.5.5 Grammatical meaning in Reinforcers......Page 80
3.5.7 Conclusion: Reinforcers......Page 81
3.6.1.2 Complexity of meaning in different zones......Page 82
3.6.1.5 Semantic structure and language functions......Page 83
3.6.2 Semantic structure as characteristic of the zones......Page 84
3.7.2 Prospect: later chapters......Page 87
4.1 Introduction......Page 89
4.2.1.1 Relative modifiers......Page 90
4.2.1.3 Intensifying and weakening modifiers......Page 91
4.2.2 Discussion: modification of a preceding modifier......Page 92
4.3 Modification of a later modifier......Page 93
4.3.1 Types of later-modifier modification......Page 94
4.3.2 Discussion: modification of a later modifier......Page 95
4.4.1 Introduction......Page 97
4.4.2 Modal modification......Page 98
4.4.4 Discussion: modification of the act of ascription......Page 99
4.5 Modification of a discourse element other than the head entity......Page 101
4.5.1 Types of other-element modification......Page 102
4.5.2 Discussion: modification of another discourse element......Page 103
4.6 Modification of the discourse situation......Page 104
4.6.1 Types of situation modification......Page 105
4.6.3 Conclusion: modification of the discourse situation......Page 107
4.7.1 Closeness to the head of modifiers in the different zones......Page 108
4.8.1 Other syntactic features of the zones......Page 109
4.8.2.2 Parts of speech......Page 110
4.8.2.3 Types of modification......Page 111
4.8.2.4 Marked syntax......Page 112
4.8.2.6 Support from other writers......Page 113
4.9.1 Summary......Page 114
4.9.2 Relationship between syntax and semantics......Page 115
4.9.3 Prospect......Page 118
5.1.1 General introduction......Page 120
5.1.3 Introduction to Classifier semantics......Page 122
5.1.4 Introduction to the types of Classifier order......Page 124
5.2.1.1 The basic construction......Page 127
i Taxonomic construction......Page 131
ii Meronymic construction......Page 132
5.2.2.2 Semantic explanation......Page 133
5.2.3 Discussion of the Participant-head construction......Page 134
5.3.1 The order of Classifiers in the Process-head construction......Page 137
5.3.2 Explanation of the order in the Process-head construction......Page 139
5.3.3 Discussion of the Process-head construction......Page 140
5.4.1 The order of Classifiers in the Circumstance-head construction......Page 142
5.5.1 The order of Classifiers in the Intensive-Attribute-head construction......Page 143
5.5.3 Discussion of Intensive-Attribute-head construction......Page 144
5.6.2 Explanation of the order in the Possessed-Attribute-head construction......Page 145
5.7.1 Introduction......Page 146
5.7.2.2 Slightly conventionalised uses......Page 147
5.7.3 Discussion of constructionless Classifiers......Page 148
5.8.1 Relation between Classifier phrases and compounds......Page 149
5.8.2 Relation of Classifier constructions to each other......Page 151
5.8.3 Relation of Classifier constructions to the overall premodification structure......Page 152
5.8.4 Relation of Classifiers to genitives......Page 153
5.8.5 Completeness of the account of Classifier constructions......Page 154
5.9.1 Summary......Page 156
5.9.2 Prospect: the following chapters......Page 158
6.1 Introduction......Page 159
6.2.3 Order of experience......Page 160
6.3.1 Thematic meaning first......Page 161
6.3.4 Conclusion......Page 162
6.4.3 Most evocative word last......Page 163
6.5.2 The basis for free order......Page 164
6.5.3 Marked use of coordination, in free order......Page 165
6.6 Conclusion: free order......Page 166
7.1.1 General introduction......Page 168
7.1.2 Cautions......Page 169
7.2 Marked order used to change modification structure......Page 171
7.3.2 Marked by position relative to other premodifiers......Page 172
7.3.3 Marked by coordination......Page 174
7.3.4 Marked by being graded......Page 175
7.3.5 Marked by semantic clash......Page 176
7.4.1 Borderline instances......Page 177
7.4.2 Other discussion......Page 178
7.5 Conclusion: marked order......Page 179
8.1 Introduction......Page 181
8.2.1 Order of premodifiers in Old English......Page 182
8.3.1 Introduction......Page 185
8.3.2 Syntax in Middle English......Page 186
8.3.3 Semantics in Middle English......Page 187
8.3.4 The nature of premodifier order in Middle English......Page 188
8.3.5 Discussion: the Middle English period......Page 190
8.3.6 Conclusion: the Middle English period......Page 191
8.4.2 Syntax in Early Modern English......Page 192
8.4.3 Semantics in Early Modern English......Page 193
8.4.5 Conclusion: the Early Modern English period......Page 195
8.5.1 Introduction......Page 197
8.5.2 Classifier zone in Later Modern English......Page 198
8.5.4 Discussion: the Later Modern English period......Page 201
8.5.5 Conclusion: the Later Modern English period......Page 203
8.7.1 Words changing zone......Page 204
8.7.2 Systematisation......Page 208
8.7.3.2 History of semantic structure......Page 209
8.7.3.4 Nominal phrases as restructured clauses......Page 211
8.8 Conclusion: historical explanation of premodifier order......Page 212
9.2.1 Types of order......Page 214
9.2.2 Semantics......Page 215
9.2.3 Syntax......Page 217
9.2.5 Conclusion: psycholinguistic explanation......Page 218
9.3.2.1 Head as Topic, and premodifier as Comment......Page 219
9.3.2.2 Premodifier as Topic, and head as Comment......Page 220
9.3.3 Structure of Theme and Rheme......Page 221
9.3.4 Structure from participant status......Page 222
9.3.5.2 Noun incorporation......Page 224
9.3.6 Conclusion: discourse explanation......Page 225
9.4.1 Evidence from general research......Page 226
9.5 Morphological and phonological explanations......Page 228
9.7 Conclusion: supporting explanations......Page 230
10.2.2 Limits to the importance of zones and of apparent zone structure......Page 232
10.2.3 Zones as constructions......Page 233
10.2.4 Zones as an integrated system......Page 235
10.2.5 Word classes and gradience in the zones......Page 237
10.2.6 Effect of zone structure on compositionality......Page 239
10.2.7 Conclusion: premodification zones......Page 240
10.3.1 Introduction......Page 241
10.3.2.2 Analysis of movement forward as grammaticalisation......Page 242
10.3.2.3 Analysis of movement back as grammaticalisation......Page 243
i Introduction......Page 244
iii Rise in rank: movement ‘up’......Page 245
iv Conclusion to analysis of movement up and down......Page 246
10.3.3.2 Analytical perspective......Page 247
10.3.3.4 Onomasiological perspective......Page 249
10.3.3.6 Conclusion to the changes as viewed in a broader approach......Page 251
10.3.4 General conclusion to premodifier changes and grammaticalisation......Page 252
10.4.1 Introduction......Page 255
10.4.2 General discussion of the theories......Page 256
10.4.3.1 Conceptual theories......Page 258
10.4.3.4 Grammatical theories......Page 259
10.4.3.5 Functional theories......Page 260
10.4.3.7 Theories of Classifier order......Page 261
10.5 Conclusion to discussion......Page 262
11.1 Summary......Page 263
11.2 Conclusion......Page 266
References......Page 269
Index......Page 283