Skip to main content Accessibility help
×
Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-c47g7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-24T02:23:55.420Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

8 - HYBRID NOUNS AND THE AGREEMENT HIERARCHY

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 June 2012

Get access

Summary

In this chapter we tackle a most interesting problem, namely that of hybrid nouns. As early as Chapter 3 we noted cases where the meaning and the form of nouns conflict in terms of gender assignment. Normally semantic criteria overrule formal considerations. In some instances, however, the conflict of criteria is not settled in this unambiguous way, and a hybrid noun results. The specific nature of hybrid nouns was identified in section 6.4.5.2. Like nouns of double (or multiple) gender, hybrid nouns take more than one set of agreements, that is, they take forms from more than one consistent agreement pattern. But unlike nouns of double gender, hybrid nouns do not simply belong to two genders. The crucial point about hybrid nouns is that the form of gender agreement used with them depends in part on the type of agreement target involved. Thus, while we can say of a normal noun simply that it takes, for example, feminine agreement, for a hybrid noun we can specify the agreement only provided we know the agreement target in question. Given this, the range of possible inventories of agreements taken by hybrids would appear to be extensive. However, we shall see that there are generalizations to be made about such agreement options; they are constrained by the Agreement Hierarchy (section 8.1). It turns out that pronouns have a special importance for hybrid nouns, which is examined in section 8.2.

Type
Chapter
Information
Gender , pp. 225 - 260
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 1991

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure coreplatform@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×