SOAS Research Online

Abstract

The thesis describes the structure of the Simple Nominal Phrase, its constituent elements, their role in the Simple Nominal Phrase and their relationship to each other. In the first section, the Simple Nominal Phrase is distinguished from other types of Nominal Phrase, and shown to be analysable in terms of a Head, pre-Head Qualifiers, and post-Head Qualifiers. The various types of item - both adverbial and non-adverbial - which can occur in Nominal Phrases are then described in terms of their own structure and their possible occurrence in the Simple Nominal Phrase, as Head or as pre-Head or post-Head Qualifier or as both. The second section is concerned, first, with Nominal Phrases consisting of Head alone, and then with the possible combinations of various types of Qualifier and of Head, and the co-occurrence in a single Nominal Phrase of various types of Qualifier. Attention is given first to pre-Head Qualifiers, then to post-Head Qualifiers, and then to the co-occurrence - both optional and necessary - of pre-Head and post-Head Qualifiers. The possibility of accumulation of Qualifiers in a single Nominal Phrase is also considered, and the sequential order of their occurrence. The third section examines the operation of Gender and of Number agreements within the Simple Nominal Phrase, and the possibility of interrupting the continuity of Simple Nominal Phrase by certain extraneous items. In addition to specific conclusions on the role of various types of item and their combination, co-occurrence and accumulation, the general conclusion is reached, that analysis in terms of a Head and pre-Head and post-Head Qualifiers facilitates the description of the Simple Nominal Phrase, its constituent elements and their relationship to one another.