A taxonomy of basic natural entities
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Claude Vandeloise
Abstract
The taxonomy set out in this chapter explores the connection between the ontology of concrete entities and their representation by nouns in languages like French and English. Basic entities are compared with super-entities, composed of several basic entities, and sub-entities that are parts of basic entities. A distinction is established between material entities and the spatial entities they occupy. Some criteria are also provided to distinguish between masses versus entities represented by count nouns, and masses versus aggregates. It is claimed that collections, like forests, are super-entities that share similarities with aggregates. Finally, three types of mixtures – assortments, blends and fusions – are distinguished and an analysis of the way we refer to them is proposed.
Abstract
The taxonomy set out in this chapter explores the connection between the ontology of concrete entities and their representation by nouns in languages like French and English. Basic entities are compared with super-entities, composed of several basic entities, and sub-entities that are parts of basic entities. A distinction is established between material entities and the spatial entities they occupy. Some criteria are also provided to distinguish between masses versus entities represented by count nouns, and masses versus aggregates. It is claimed that collections, like forests, are super-entities that share similarities with aggregates. Finally, three types of mixtures – assortments, blends and fusions – are distinguished and an analysis of the way we refer to them is proposed.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Contributors vii
- Introduction 1
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Part I. Spatial Entities and the Structures of Languages: Descriptive Work
- A taxonomy of basic natural entities 35
- On the spatial meaning of contre in French 53
- The prepositions par and à travers and the categorization of spatial entities in French 71
- The linguistic categorization of spatial entities 93
- The expression of semantic components and the nature of ground entity in orientation motion verbs 123
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Part II. Spatial categorization in language and cognition
- Categorizing spatial entities with frontal orientation 153
- Containment, support, and beyond 177
- Static and dynamic location in French 205
- Precursors to spatial language 233
- The sources of spatial cognition 247
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Part III. Characterizing categories of spatial entities: Formal ontology
- From language to ontology 269
- The temporal essence of spatial objects 285
- Part-of relations, functionality and dependence 307
- Objects, locations and complex types. 337
- Language index 363
- Subject index 365
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Contributors vii
- Introduction 1
-
Part I. Spatial Entities and the Structures of Languages: Descriptive Work
- A taxonomy of basic natural entities 35
- On the spatial meaning of contre in French 53
- The prepositions par and à travers and the categorization of spatial entities in French 71
- The linguistic categorization of spatial entities 93
- The expression of semantic components and the nature of ground entity in orientation motion verbs 123
-
Part II. Spatial categorization in language and cognition
- Categorizing spatial entities with frontal orientation 153
- Containment, support, and beyond 177
- Static and dynamic location in French 205
- Precursors to spatial language 233
- The sources of spatial cognition 247
-
Part III. Characterizing categories of spatial entities: Formal ontology
- From language to ontology 269
- The temporal essence of spatial objects 285
- Part-of relations, functionality and dependence 307
- Objects, locations and complex types. 337
- Language index 363
- Subject index 365
