12. Adjectives
-
Violeta Demonte
Abstract
This chapter focuses on the main characteristics of the semantic category adjective. It presents basic classifications of adjectives in formal semantics and current lines of debate regarding classes of adjectives and their semantic analysis. In section 1 the standard definition of adjectives as predicates, functions from entities to truth values (type < e,t >), is introduced. Section 2 addresses the morphosyntactic and semantic properties characterising adjectives: they are modifiers, they are gradable, and show independence of the object. In section 3 the distinction between predicative and attributive adjectives is established and qualified in terms of syntactic position, semantic type (S/N vs. CN/CN) and rules for interpretation (predicate conjunction vs. function analysis). The distinction intersective / non-intersective adjective is explained. Section 4 provides a new analysis of the semantics of adjectives in terms of scales, degrees, standards/ norms and boundedness. Adjectives are taken to be type < e,d > and they can be relative or absolute. Relative adjectives have an extension that depends on a standard and a comparison class, they give rise to vagueness. Absolute adjectives do not depend on an external norm, they have closed scales which can be lower closed or upper closed. Colour and relational adjectives as well as non-gradable modal and frequency adjectives are finally described.
Abstract
This chapter focuses on the main characteristics of the semantic category adjective. It presents basic classifications of adjectives in formal semantics and current lines of debate regarding classes of adjectives and their semantic analysis. In section 1 the standard definition of adjectives as predicates, functions from entities to truth values (type < e,t >), is introduced. Section 2 addresses the morphosyntactic and semantic properties characterising adjectives: they are modifiers, they are gradable, and show independence of the object. In section 3 the distinction between predicative and attributive adjectives is established and qualified in terms of syntactic position, semantic type (S/N vs. CN/CN) and rules for interpretation (predicate conjunction vs. function analysis). The distinction intersective / non-intersective adjective is explained. Section 4 provides a new analysis of the semantics of adjectives in terms of scales, degrees, standards/ norms and boundedness. Adjectives are taken to be type < e,d > and they can be relative or absolute. Relative adjectives have an extension that depends on a standard and a comparison class, they give rise to vagueness. Absolute adjectives do not depend on an external norm, they have closed scales which can be lower closed or upper closed. Colour and relational adjectives as well as non-gradable modal and frequency adjectives are finally described.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- 1. Semantic features and primes 1
- 2. Frameworks of lexical decomposition of verbs 47
- 3. Thematic roles 99
- 4. Lexical Conceptual Structure 126
- 5. Idioms and collocations 152
- 6. Sense relations 172
- 7. Dual oppositions in lexical meaning 201
- 8. Ambiguity and vagueness: An overview 236
- 9. Semantic underspecification 272
- 10. Mismatches and coercion 321
- 11. Metaphors and metonymies 350
- 12. Adjectives 381
- 13. Comparison constructions 415
- 14. Adverbs and adverbials 477
- 15, Adverbial clauses 515
- 16. Secondary predicates 543
- Index 569
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- 1. Semantic features and primes 1
- 2. Frameworks of lexical decomposition of verbs 47
- 3. Thematic roles 99
- 4. Lexical Conceptual Structure 126
- 5. Idioms and collocations 152
- 6. Sense relations 172
- 7. Dual oppositions in lexical meaning 201
- 8. Ambiguity and vagueness: An overview 236
- 9. Semantic underspecification 272
- 10. Mismatches and coercion 321
- 11. Metaphors and metonymies 350
- 12. Adjectives 381
- 13. Comparison constructions 415
- 14. Adverbs and adverbials 477
- 15, Adverbial clauses 515
- 16. Secondary predicates 543
- Index 569
