Towards a typology of elative expressions within a functional approach to parts-of-speech systems

Abstract:

In this chapter, I explore the potential of doing a linguistic analysis within a model motivated by the semantic-pragmatic conditions of communicative language use, in particular, an adapted version of the so-called Amsterdam Model of parts-of-speech systems. Along these guidelines, this paper provides a general classification of elative expression procedures, based on data collected in a sample of 20 unrelated languages. This enables the recognition of five basic types of elative markers. Three of them are characterized by the use of free morphemes with a dissimilar functional scope. A fourth type takes a bound-morpheme format, directly linked to the operand. The fifth type responds to a complex interaction of morphophonological processes, interpretable as variants of a reduplication-ideophony continuum. These results are compatible with a constituent-based version of the Amsterdam Model, allowing an accurate categorization. Thus, exponents of type 1 behave as flexible modifiers with a wide range of polyfunctionality. Elatives belonging to types 2 and 3 deserve to be properly classified as degree adverbs. Finally, types 4 and 5 correspond to rigid procedures which are non-lexical in nature. Thus, this constituent-based approach, apart from upgrading the shortcomings and analytical Anglo-centrism of the Chomskyan paradigm, is able to solve some paradoxes implied in earlier versions of the Amsterdam Model.