형용사와 부사의 경계성에 관한 분석

Abstract

According to Langacker(1991b: 63-100), nouns are divided into two groups: count nouns and mass nouns, based on the clarity of the ‘boundedness’ related to ‘region’, which is construed as one of the core features of nouns. Verbs are also divided into two groups: perfective verbs and imperfective verbs, depending on the clarity of the beginning and ending point of the process which verbs profile. It would be helpful to analyze the characters of adjectives and adverbs from the viewpoint of the concept of boundedness. The purpose of this thesis is to analyze the characters of adjectives and adverbs by dividing them into two types. For this purpose, based on Langacker(1991b)'s concept of boundedness, I propose ‘comparability’ as the key concept of the boundedness applicable to adjectives and adverbs. The thesis is organized as follows: Chapter 1 is the Introduction. In Chapter 2, the main points of the previous studies by Kato(1986) and Paradis(2001) are introduced with the mention of their limitations and points to be supplemented. In Chapter 3, I have applied Langacker(1991b)'s concept of the boundedness to the analysis of English adjectives. The notion ‘comparability’ was proposed as a ‘boundedness’ criterion for grouping adjectives into two types: degree adjectives and non-degree adjectives. Further degree adjectives are classified into two types: gradable adjectives and non-gradable adjectives. Chapter 4 discusses the characters of adverbs and groups them into two types on the basis of ‘comparability’, which has applied to adjectives. The limitations of the studies by Kato(1986) and Paradis(2001) are supplemented. The result of this thesis is as follows: the concept of boundedness for adjectives and adverbs is also needed to characterize inherent natures of adjectives and adverbs and ‘comparability’ is the key notion in that direction. Thus, adjectives and adverbs seem to share something in common with nouns and verbs in the light of boundedness.