LINGUIST List 10.649

Sun May 2 1999

Qs: Advice Re/Blind Students, Adjectives as Nouns

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  • DAVE GOUGH, Blind linguistics students
  • Laurie Bauer, Adjectives as nouns

    Message 1: Blind linguistics students

     Date: Fri, 30 Apr 1999 20:47:07 +0200
    From: DAVE GOUGH <mcgeenetactive.co.za>
    Subject: Blind linguistics students


    Hi

    Need some help. We have a blind student who is studying linguistics (introductory course). We have arranged for a senior staff member to take the student under her wing. We would really appreciate any assistance that any one with experience in teaching blind students could provide us to assist this student in an informed way.

    As a historically disadvantaged university in South Africa (originally intended for one particular not white population group) an additional problem is a lack of funding - so our solutions have to be 'cost effective'!

    Thanks

    Dave Gough Department of Linguistics University of the Western Cape Bellville 7535 South Africa

    +27 21 959 2978

    Message 2: Adjectives as nouns

     Date: Mon, 3 May 1999 10:25:02 +1200
    From: Laurie Bauer <laurie.bauervuw.ac.nz>
    Subject: Adjectives as nouns


    There are two ways in which adjectives are used as nouns in English: 1. The adjective can be used as a nominal head to denote some kind of generic: _*The rich* can get away with a lot more than *the poor* can_. Only a restricted set of determiners is possible (because of the generic reading, I presume), and no plural marking is possible on the adjective. 2. The adjective can take a full range of determiners and nominal inflections, and in many ways looks like a noun: _*Intellectuals* see both sides to any question_.

    I can't find a really good discussion of either of these, but I think that the facts for type (1) are clearer than for type (2). In type 1 any adjective which can be used to modify people can be used with plural concord to provide a generic group of people, and any adjective which can be used for inanimates can be used with singular concord to provide a sort of generic group of things: _*The impossible* takes a little longer_..

    My question is: does anyone know of a good discussion of the type 2 adjectives where there are apparent restrictions on what can be done? For example: The undesirables have arrived *The amiables have arrived *A beautiful is always to be treasured A romantic has no place in the world of commerce

    I will summarise for the list if I get interest in the topic.

    Thank you

    Laurie Bauer

    Programme Director for Linguistics School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies Victoria University of Wellington PO Box 600 Wellington New Zealand Ph +64 4 472 1000 x 8800 Fax +64 4 495 5057 www http://www.vuw.ac.nz/lals e-mail laurie.bauervuw.ac.nz