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

Based on a systematic analysis of a very large corpus, this book introduces a conceptual and terminological framework for the linguistic description of abstract nouns. The uses and meanings of 670 abstract English nouns are described and their semantic, pragmatic, rhetorical, textual and cognitive functions are discussed, always with reference to authentic corpus data. This way a link between the corpus method and functional and cognitive theories of language is established. The book includes an appendix giving statistical information on the lexico-grammatical usage of the 670 nouns. 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.