hellog〜英語史ブログ / 2025-06-15

■ #5893. 制限的付加詞それ自体の意味は制限的ではなく一般的なことが多い [semantics][restrictive_adjunct][adjective]

　昨日の記事「#5892. 制限的付加詞 (restrictive adjunct) と非制限的付加詞 (non-restrictive adjunct)」 ([2025-06-14-1]) で，Jespersen による説明を見たが，制限的付加詞 (restrictive adjunct) を解説したくだりの直後に，次の段落が続いている．典型的な制限的付加詞となる形容詞は，それ自体の意味としては制限的・特殊的というよりも，むしろ一般的であるという趣旨だ．一見して矛盾しているようにも思えるが，よく考えると理屈が通っている．

Now it may be remembered that these identical examples were given above as illustrations of the thesis that substantives are more special than adjectives, and it may be asked: is not there a contradiction between what was said there and what has just been asserted here? But on closer inspection it will be seen that it is really most natural that a less special term is used in order further to specialize what is already to some extent special: the method of attaining a high degree of specialization is analogous if one ladder will not do, you first take the tallest ladder you have and tie the second tallest to the top of it, and if that is not enough, you tie on the next in length, etc. In the same way, if widow is not special enough, you add poor, which is less special than widow, and yet, if it is added, enables you to reach farther in specialization; if that does not suffice, you add the subjunct very, which in itself is much more general than poor. Widow is special, poor widow more special, and very poor widow still more special, but very is less special than poor, and that again than widow.

　名詞句を構成する付加詞の意味の特殊性・一般性と，結果としての名詞句の指示対象の範囲の狭さ・広さが，反比例のような関係になっているという指摘だ．気にしたことがなかった意味論的観点で，新鮮である．梯子の比喩もユニークだ．

　・ Jespersen, O. The Philosophy of Grammar. London: Allen and Unwin, 1924.

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