Schmid Hans-Jörg. English Abstract Nouns As Conceptual Shells: From Corpus to Cognition

Mouton de Gruyter, 2000. — 473 p. — (Topics in English Linguistics [TiEL] 34). — ISBN 3110167670, 9783110167672.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.Foundations: Theory, terminology and methodologyApproaching shell nouns
The term shell noun
Defining shell nouns and shell-content complexes in functional terms
A brief note on the theoretical stance
The links between shell nouns and contents
Triggering co-interpretation
Lexico-grammatical patterns of shell-noun uses
From identity of reference to experiential identity
The semantic contributions of different types of complements: a survey of the evidence from verbal complementation
Basic functions of shell-noun typical patterns
The systematic investigation of shell nouns
The From-Corpus-to-Cognition Principle
Data retrieval
Cleaning up the data
Systematic misses of the corpus inquiry
A survey of the results of the corpus inquiry
Semantic prerequisites
Abstractness
Extensional abstractness and classes of abstract entities
Stylistic abstractness and grammatical metaphor
Unspecificity and structure-inherent semantic gaps
Summary of Part I
The use of shell nouns
Describing shell-noun uses
Degrees of typicality
Explaining the meanings of shell-noun uses: features and frames
Factual usesNeutral uses
Causal uses
Evidential uses
Comparative uses
Partitive uses
Attitudinal factual uses
Linguistic usesPrepositional uses
Illocutionary uses
Assertive uses
Rogativeuses
Directive uses
Commissive uses
Expressive uses
Mental usesConceptual uses
Psychological-state uses
Creditive uses
Dubitative uses
Volitional uses
Emotive uses
Modal usesEpistemic uses
Deontic uses
Dynamic uses
EventiveusesGeneral eventive uses
Specific eventive uses
Attitudinal eventive uses
Circumstantial usesGeneral circumstantial uses
Specific circumstantial uses
Summary of Part II
Functions of shell nouns
Introduction to Part III
Semantic functions
The characterizing potential inherent in shell nouns
Characterization expressed by premodifiers
Pragmatic, rhetorical and textual functions
Focusing and topicalizing
Linking
Signposting
Cognitive functions
Conceptual partitioning
Reifying and hypostatizing
Integrating
Conclusion and outlook
Appendix
NotesIndex of shell nouns
Index of subjects