J. Rijkhoff
- Published in print:
- 2002
- Published Online:
- January 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780198237822
- eISBN:
- 9780191706776
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198237822.003.0002
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Semantics and Pragmatics
This chapter investigates certain morpho-syntactic and semantic properties of both flexible and distinct nouns that are employed in languages across the world to refer to a singular discrete spatial ...
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This chapter investigates certain morpho-syntactic and semantic properties of both flexible and distinct nouns that are employed in languages across the world to refer to a singular discrete spatial entity (or individual) such as ‘dog’ or ‘knife’ (or, rather, to refer to an entity whose ontological counterpart or Sein-correlate is a singular discrete spatial object). Based on morpho-syntactic evidence, this chapter argues that four noun types (or nominal subcategories) are normally used for this purpose: singular object nouns, set nouns, sort nouns, and general nouns. Ultimately this leads to a more comprehensive and semantically orientated classification of six major nominal subcategories which are defined in terms of two features: shape and homogeneity. The semantics of incorporated and predicate nouns is also discussed. The chapter contends that each nominal subcategory essentially defines a different Seinsart of a spatial property, that is, an alternative way in which a nominal property is specified for the features shape and homogeneity.Less
This chapter investigates certain morpho-syntactic and semantic properties of both flexible and distinct nouns that are employed in languages across the world to refer to a singular discrete spatial entity (or individual) such as ‘dog’ or ‘knife’ (or, rather, to refer to an entity whose ontological counterpart or Sein-correlate is a singular discrete spatial object). Based on morpho-syntactic evidence, this chapter argues that four noun types (or nominal subcategories) are normally used for this purpose: singular object nouns, set nouns, sort nouns, and general nouns. Ultimately this leads to a more comprehensive and semantically orientated classification of six major nominal subcategories which are defined in terms of two features: shape and homogeneity. The semantics of incorporated and predicate nouns is also discussed. The chapter contends that each nominal subcategory essentially defines a different Seinsart of a spatial property, that is, an alternative way in which a nominal property is specified for the features shape and homogeneity.
Kathryn A. Hirsh-Pasek and Roberta M. Golinkoff
- Published in print:
- 2006
- Published Online:
- April 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780195170009
- eISBN:
- 9780199893300
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195170009.001.0001
- Subject:
- Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Clinical Child Psychology / School Psychology
Words are the building blocks of language. An understanding of how words are learned is thus central to any theory of language acquisition. Although there has been a surge in our understanding of ...
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Words are the building blocks of language. An understanding of how words are learned is thus central to any theory of language acquisition. Although there has been a surge in our understanding of children's vocabulary growth, theories of word learning focus primarily on object nouns. Word learning theories must explain not only the learning of object nouns, but also the learning of other, major classes of words — verbs and adjectives. Verbs form the hub of the sentence because they determine the sentence's argument structure. Researchers throughout the world recognize how our understanding of language acquisition can be at best partial if we cannot comprehend how verbs are learned. This book enters the relatively uncharted waters of early verb learning, focusing on the universal, conceptual foundations for verb learning, and how these foundations intersect with the burgeoning language system.Less
Words are the building blocks of language. An understanding of how words are learned is thus central to any theory of language acquisition. Although there has been a surge in our understanding of children's vocabulary growth, theories of word learning focus primarily on object nouns. Word learning theories must explain not only the learning of object nouns, but also the learning of other, major classes of words — verbs and adjectives. Verbs form the hub of the sentence because they determine the sentence's argument structure. Researchers throughout the world recognize how our understanding of language acquisition can be at best partial if we cannot comprehend how verbs are learned. This book enters the relatively uncharted waters of early verb learning, focusing on the universal, conceptual foundations for verb learning, and how these foundations intersect with the burgeoning language system.
Friederike Moltmann
- Published in print:
- 2021
- Published Online:
- July 2021
- ISBN:
- 9780192895332
- eISBN:
- 9780191916151
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780192895332.003.0011
- Subject:
- Philosophy, Metaphysics/Epistemology, Philosophy of Language
Two levels of ontology are commonly distinguished in metaphysics: the ontology of ordinary objects, or more generally ordinary ontology, and the ontology of what there really or fundamentally is. ...
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Two levels of ontology are commonly distinguished in metaphysics: the ontology of ordinary objects, or more generally ordinary ontology, and the ontology of what there really or fundamentally is. This chapter argues that natural language reflects not only the ordinary ontology but also a language-driven ontology, which is involved in the mass-count distinction and part-structure-sensitive semantic selection (as well as perhaps the light ontology of pleonastic entities in the sense of Schiffer). The language-driven ontology does not constitute another level of representation, but is taken to be a (selective) ontology of the real, given a plenitudinous or maximalist conception of reality. The language-driven ontology aligns closely with the functional part of grammar and a commitment to it is mandatory with the use of language. This gives rise to a novel view according to which part of ontology should be considered part of universal grammar on a broadened understanding. The chapter recasts the author’s older theory of situated part structures without situations, in purely ontological terms, making use of a primitive notion of unity.Less
Two levels of ontology are commonly distinguished in metaphysics: the ontology of ordinary objects, or more generally ordinary ontology, and the ontology of what there really or fundamentally is. This chapter argues that natural language reflects not only the ordinary ontology but also a language-driven ontology, which is involved in the mass-count distinction and part-structure-sensitive semantic selection (as well as perhaps the light ontology of pleonastic entities in the sense of Schiffer). The language-driven ontology does not constitute another level of representation, but is taken to be a (selective) ontology of the real, given a plenitudinous or maximalist conception of reality. The language-driven ontology aligns closely with the functional part of grammar and a commitment to it is mandatory with the use of language. This gives rise to a novel view according to which part of ontology should be considered part of universal grammar on a broadened understanding. The chapter recasts the author’s older theory of situated part structures without situations, in purely ontological terms, making use of a primitive notion of unity.
