Original scientific paper
On the Cognitive Foundations of Modifier, Determiner, and Quantifier Position within Croatian Nominals
Branimir Belaj
orcid.org/0000-0002-2334-9673
; Filozofski fakultet u Osijeku
Branko Kuna
orcid.org/0000-0002-4436-3749
; Filozofski fakultet u Osijeku
Abstract
This paper focuses on the sequence of the following types of constituents within complex nominals in Croatian: adjectival premodifiers, determiners and quantifiers. Using the methodology of Cognitive Grammar (Langacker 1987, 1991, Taylor 2002, Radden and Dirven 2007), we first turn to the analysis of a few representative examples to account for those aspects of meaning that trigger a neutral sequence of these constituents in complex nominals. Then we test the degree to which the grammaticality of specific complex nominal constructions is affected by shifts to non-neutral constituent orders. A semantic/pragmatic factor that is proposed to influence the grammaticality of such constructions in non-neutral constituent sequences is reference, i.e. grounding. Grounding refers to the mental contact established between the speech act participants and the nominal referent. With that in mind, special attention will be paid to the semantic differences between, on the one hand, referential elements, viz. determiners, relative quantifiers and indefinite absolute quantifiers, and on the other, non-referential elements, viz. adjectival premodifiers and definite absolute quantifiers (numerals).
Keywords
modifiers; determiners; absolute and relative quantifiers; grounding
Hrčak ID:
117812
URI
Publication date:
18.3.2014.
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