Quantification and aspect in the noun phrase [un caudal de N]

This paper explores from a cognitive linguistic perspective the continuity between lexical and semigrammaticalized uses of the lexeme caudal in the noun phrase of the type [Det. caudalN 1 de N 2 ] in written peninsular Spanish. This structure yields various constructional schemas, going from [[Det. + N 1 ] ([de + N 2 ])] with N 1 as nucleus, and more or less lexicalized [Det. N 1 de N 2 ] collocations, to [[Det. N 1 de] N 2 ] with N 2 as nucleus. The meaning of the nominal caudal, linked to the fl uvial scenery, presents various quantitative, spatial, tempo-aspectual and qualitative components that predispose it to metaphorical projection from the hydric domain to other domains. In the binominal quantifying construction [[un caudal de] N2] caudal keeps some nominal distributional properties, and certain facets of its lexical meaning persist as well. While the degree of schematization or semantic bleaching varies in function of N 2 and of the wider context, caudal does not only quantify N 2 , it at the same time endows it with an aspectual-appreciatory dimension essentially conceived of in terms of fl uidity, continuity and accumulation, i.e., situating N 2 in an evolutionary perspective.

Jaar van publicatie:2017

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IOF-keylabel:ja

BOF-publication weight:1

CSS-citation score:1

Authors from:Higher Education