BASICS OF NOMINAL REFERENCE_2024

THE BASICS OF NOMINAL REFERENCE

Authors and Editors

• Claudia Gabriela Pîsoschi
• Prof.univ.dr. habil. Titela Vîlceanu
• Conf.univ.dr. Mădălina Cerban

Contents Overview

I. MORPHOLOGY – A BRANCH OF LINGUISTICS
1.1. The connection between the various branches of linguistics
1.2. The basic unit of analysis
1.3. The domain of Morphology: Derivation and inflection
1.4. Topics for discussion
II. ARTICLES AS DETERMINERS
2.1. Determination and determiners
2.2. The article as a determiner
2.3. Topics for discussion
III. THE NOUN
3.1. Definition
3.2. Classification
3.3. Grammatical categories
3.4. Syntactic functions
3.5. Topics for discussion
IV. THE ADJECTIVE
4.1. Definition
4.2. Classification
4.3. Characteristics
4.4. Grammatical categories
4.5. Topics for discussion
V. THE PRONOUN
5.1. Definition
5.2. Characteristics
5.3. Classification
5.4. Topics for discussion
BIBLIOGRAPHY

I. MORPHOLOGY – A BRANCH OF LINGUISTICS

1.1. The connection between the various branches of linguistics

• Morphology studies the forms and changes of form that a word undergoes in various contexts.
  • Linked to the phonemic level (form without content), morphemic, semantics, syntax, and pragmatics.
  • Morphemes (smallest units of meaning) combine to form words that can create sentences.
• Basic linguistic levels:
  • Written Texts → Compound and Complex Sentences → Discourse Types
  • Simple Sentence → Phrase → Lexeme → Morpheme → Phoneme

1.2. The basic unit of analysis

• The word is the basic unit, defined as follows:
  • According to Marchand (1969): "The smallest independent, indivisible, and meaningful unit of speech, susceptible of transposition in sentences."
  • Lexeme: A unit of linguistic analysis that has a meaning and typically enters into syntactic combinations as a single word.
    • Example: Lexeme SING has various forms: sings, singing, sung.
• Morpheme: The smallest grammatical unit.
  • Allomorphs: Variants of a morpheme (e.g., -s and -es).
  • Concepts of zero alternant and substitution alternants are presented to explain forms like sheep or sing-sang.

1.3. The domain of Morphology: Derivation and inflection

1.3.1. The domain of Morphology

• Morphology includes procedures for interpreting a word, either by inflection or by creating new lexemes via derivation.

1.3.2. Derivation and inflection

• Inflection alters grammatical form without changing lexical meaning.
• Derivation creates new lexemes and can change the part of speech.
• Criteria to differentiate:
  • Change in lexical meaning and part of speech: inflection maintains the same meaning; derivation may not.
  • Productivity: inflection is typically more productive.
  • Semantic regularity: inflection follows strict rules, unlike derivation.
  • Closure: inflection limits further derivation.

Topics for Discussion

1. Discuss Adams’ views on word structure and use (1973).
2. Analyse words for morphemic structure using examples (write, information, sheep).

II. ARTICLES AS DETERMINERS

2.1. Determination and determiners

• Determination specifies a noun's reference area (articles, numerals, adjectives with meaningful function).
• Types of determiners:
  • Predeterminers: e.g., all, both
  • Determiners Proper: Articles, possessive adjectives
  • Postdeterminers: e.g., numbers, quantifying adjectives.

2.2. The article as a determiner

2.2.1. Definition

• Articles specify the reference of nouns:
  • Definite (the) indicates known references.
  • Indefinite (a, an) suggests unknown references.

2.2.2. Classification

• Types of articles: definite, indefinite, and zero article.

2.2.3. Form

• Articles are invariant: Definite article has three pronunciation variants determined by phonetic and stylistic reasons.
• The indefinite article changes form based on the noun that follows (a vs. an).

2.2.4. Functions

• Articles express specific vs. non-specific reference.

Topics for Discussion

• Analysis of different expressions regarding specificity in articles.

III. THE NOUN

3.1. Definition

• Nouns denote concrete or abstract elements and can be classified semantically.

3.2. Classification

1. Semantic criterion: common (classes) and proper (individuals).
2. Formal criterion: differing inflectional characteristics (countable vs. uncountable).
3. Structural criterion: forms based on derivation or compounding.

3.3. Grammatical Categories

• Gender, number, case, and determination that are not marked by suffixation.

3.4. Syntactic Functions

• Nouns can function as subjects, objects, etc.

Topics for Discussion

• Investigate differences in noun categories and their functions.

IV. THE ADJECTIVE

4.1. Definition

• Denotes characteristics of an object, using a semantic criterion.

4