This book presents rigorous and criterial definitions of the major parts of speech - noun, verb, and adjective - that account both for their syntactic behaviour and for their observed typological variation. Based on an examination of languages from five different groups - Salishan, Cora, Quechua, Totonac, and Hausa - this book argues that parts of speech must be defined by combining the criteria of syntactic markedness, which characterizes lexical classes in terms of unmarked syntactic roles, and semantic prototypicality, which delimits their prototypical meanings. Adjectives are shown to be the marked (and, hence, most variable) class because of their inherent non-iconicity at the semantics/syntax interface. The four-member typology of parts of speech systems (languages with three open classes, those that group adjectives with verbs, those that group adjectives with nouns, and those that conflate all three) current in the literature is easily generated by free recombination of these two criterial features. Closer examination of the data, however, casts doubt on the existence of one of the four possible language-types, the noun-adjective conflating inventory, which is accounted here for by replacing free recombination of semantic and syntactic features with an algorithm for the subdivision of the lexicon that gives primacy to semantics over syntax.
This book presents rigorous and criterial definitions of the major parts of speech - noun, verb, and adjective - that account both for their syntactic behaviour and for their observed typological variation. Based on an examination of languages from five different groups - Salishan, Cora, Quechua, Totonac, and Hausa - this book argues that parts of speech must be defined by combining the criteria of syntactic markedness, which characterizes lexical classes in terms of unmarked syntactic roles, and semantic prototypicality, which delimits their prototypical meanings. Adjectives are shown to be the marked (and, hence, most variable) class because of their inherent non-iconicity at the semantics/syntax interface. The four-member typology of parts of speech systems (languages with three open classes, those that group adjectives with verbs, those that group adjectives with nouns, and those that conflate all three) current in the literature is easily generated by free recombination of these two criterial features. Closer examination of the data, however, casts doubt on the existence of one of the four possible language-types, the noun-adjective conflating inventory, which is accounted here for by replacing free recombination of semantic and syntactic features with an algorithm for the subdivision of the lexicon that gives primacy to semantics over syntax.
You May Like
Customers Also Viewed
Discover your next great read at BookLoop, Australia's trusted online bookstore offering a vast selection of titles across various genres and interests. Whether you're curious about what's trending or searching for graphic novels that captivate, thrilling crime and mystery fiction, or exhilarating action and adventure stories, our curated collections have something for every reader. Delve into imaginative fantasy worlds or explore the realms of science fiction that challenge the boundaries of reality.
Stay updated with the literary world by browsing our trending books, featuring the latest bestsellers and critically acclaimed works. Explore titles from popular brands like Minecraft, Pokemon, Star Wars, Bluey, Lonely Planet, ABIA award winners, Peppa Pig, and our specialized collection of ADHD books. At BookLoop, we are committed to providing a diverse and enriching reading experience for all.
Sign In
your cart
Your cart is empty
Menu
Search
PRE-SALES
If you have any questions before making a purchase chat with our online operators to get more information.
