English Abstract Nouns As Conceptual Shells: From Corpus to Cognition (Topics in English Linguistics, No 34) (Topics in English Linguistics)

The future of English linguistics as envisaged by the editors of Topics in English Linguistics lies in empirical studies, which integrate work in English linguistics into general and theoretical linguistics on the one hand, and comparative linguistics on the other. The TiEL series features volumes that present interesting new data and analyses, and above all fresh approaches that contribute to the overall aim of the series, which is to further outstanding research in English linguistics. For further publications in English linguistics see also our Dialects of English book series. To discuss your book idea or submit a proposal, please contact Natalie Fecher. Front Cover 1 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Dedication 6 Acknowledgements 8 Table of Contents 10 Part I Foundations: Theory, Terminology and Methodology 14 1. Introduction 16 2. Approaching Shell Nouns 23 2.1 The Term Shell Noun 23 2.2 Defining Shell Nouns and Shell-Content Complexes in Functional Terms 26 2.3 A Brief Note on the Theoretical Stance 33 3. The Links Between Shell Nouns and Contents 34 3.1 Triggering Co-Interpretation 34 3.2 The Semantic Contributions of Different Types of Complements: A Survey of the Evidence from Verbal Complementation 44 3.3 Basic Functions of Shell-Noun Typical Patterns 49 4. The Systematic Investigation of Shell Nouns 51 4.1 The From-Corpus-to-Cognition Principle 51 4.2 Data Retrieval 53 4.3 Cleaning Up the Data 61 4.4 Systematic Misses of the Corpus Inquiry 64 4.5 A Survey of the Results of the Corpus Inquiry 66 5. Semantic Prerequisites 76 5.1 Abstractness 76 5.2 Unspecificity and Structure-Inherent Semantic Gaps 86 5.3 Summary of Part I 93 Part II The Use of Shell Nouns 96 6. Describing Shell-Noun Uses 98 6.1 Degrees of Typicality 98 6.2 Explaining the Meanings of Shell-Noun Uses: Features and Frames 100 7. Factual Uses 105 7.1 Introduction 105 7.2 Neutral Uses 106 7.3 Causal Uses 114 7.4 Evidential Uses 123 7.5 Comparative Uses 126 7.6 Partitive Uses 129 7.7 Attitudinal Factual Uses 133 8. Linguistic Uses 144 8.1 Introduction 144 8.2 Propositional Uses 152 8.3 Illocutionary Uses 160 9. Mental Uses 197 9.1 Introduction 197 9.2 Conceptual Uses 201 9.3 Psychological-State Uses 208 10. Modal Uses 244 10.1 Introduction 244 10.2 Epistemic Uses 248 10.3 Deonticuses 257 10.4 Dynamic Uses 264 11. Eventive Uses 274 11.1 Introduction 274 11.2 General Eventive Uses 275 11.3 Specific Eventive Uses 279 11.4 Attitudinal Eventive Uses 283 12. Circumstantial Uses 288 12.1 Introduction 288 12.2 General Circumstantial Uses 290 12.3 Specific Circumstantial Uses 292 13. Summary of Part II 305 Part III Functions of Shell Nouns 314 14. Introduction to Part III 316 15. Semantic Functions 321 15.1 The Characterizing Potential Inherent in Shell Nouns 321 15.2 Characterization Expressed by Premodifiers 330 16. Pragmatic, Rhetorical and Textual Functions 342 16.1 Focusing and Topicalizing 342 16.2 Linking 352 16.3 Signposting 362 17. Cognitive Functions 373 17.1 Conceptual Partitioning 373 17.2 Reifying and Hypostatizing 376 17.3 Integrating 383 18. Conclusion and Outlook 390 Appendix 394 Notes 422 References 434 Index of Shell Nouns 456 Index of Subjects 466