44 R. M. W. Dixon
Even greater difficulties would arise for a language with two adjective classes,
such as Japanese, in Chapter 2, or Manange, in Chapter 3. These authors recognize
a bipartite adjective class, all of whose members share certain properties. There are
two sub-classes, one with similar (but not identical) properties to verbs, and one
with similar (but not identical) properties to nouns. On the sub-class-of-verbs and
sub-class-of-nouns principle, one would not be able to recognize an overall adjec-
tive class for languages of this kind.
Enough has surely be said to show that if the grammar of a language is to con-
tribute to general typological theory, then it must be cast in terms of the universal
parameters thrown up by that typological theory, while still taking care to pay full
attention to the distinctive properties of that language. The approach followed in
this chapter (and by the authors of Chapters 2-9) presents a maximally effective
and universal characterization of the universal major word class Adjective. Every
language which has been examined features such a class, although the classes dif-
fer in their sizes and in their grammatical similarity (or lack of similarity) to the
other major word classes, Noun and Verb. The typological framework employed
enables quick comparison of meanings covered, and of recurrent morphological
and syntactic properties.
In Chapter 15, 'Adjective classes: what can we conclude', John Hajek draws
together some of the recurrent properties of adjective classes, as discussed in earl-
ier chapters, also paying attention to the size of classes and correlations between
grammatical properties of adjective classes and head vs. dependent marking at
clause level. He pays particular attention to negation, comparatives, intensifiers,
reduplication, and function within the noun phrase. Hajek also suggests the Euro-
centric stance—of being reluctant to recognize 'adjectives' as a major word class
when their grammatical properties are not closely similar to those of nouns—may
be beginning to wane.
- Conclusions
I suggest that the label 'adjective class' be used for a word class that:
- is grammatically distinct from noun class and verb class;
- includes words from some or all of the prototypical adjective semantic types—
DIMENSION, AGE, VALUE, and COLOUR; - and (a) functions either as intransitive predicate or as copula complement
and/or (b) modifies a noun in an NP.
In some languages two separate adjective classes can be recognized. Note that al-
though the prototypical adjective class combines functions (a) and (b), in some
languages the class has only one of these functions.
A broad division can be made between adjectives which may function as head
of an intransitive predicate ('verb-like adjectives') and those which may function
as copula complement ('non-verb-like adjectives'); in just a few languages, adjec-