Wierzbicka, Anna (1986). What’s in a noun? (Or: How do nouns differ in meaning from adjectives?) Studies in Language, 10(2), 353-389.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1075/sl.10.2.05wie
Abstract:
This discussion of the differences between adjectives and nouns lends further support to the new emphasis on the non-arbitrariness of grammar (including ‘surface grammar’), which is becoming one of the dominant features of linguistics at the beginning of the last quarter of the twentieth century. It is becoming increasingly clear that differences and similarities in grammatical behaviour provide remarkably reliable clues to differences and similarities in meaning. In particular, the subdivision of lexical items into nouns, verbs and adjectives is not a result of meaningless transformational developments. Rather, it is a reflection of, and a guide to, subtle aspects of meaning.
Translations:
Into Russian:
Chapter 3 (pp. 91-133) of Вежбицкая, Анна (1999), Семантические универсалии и описание языков [Semantic universals and the description of languages]. Москва [Moscow]: Языки русской культуры [Languages of Russian Culture].
Chapter 6 (pp. 171-215) of Вежбицкая, Анна Семантические универсалии и базисные концепты [Semantic universals and basic concepts]. Москва [Moscow]: Языки славянских культуры [Languages of Slavic Culture].
More information:
A more recent publication building on this one is chapter 9 (pp. 463-497) of:
Wierzbicka, Anna (1988). The semantics of grammar. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
Rating:
Research carried out by one or more experienced NSM practitioners
