Adjective Classes - A Cross-Linguistic Typology

TABLE 2. Morphological types and best exemplars (both morphologically and syntactically regular) vs. classes with peculiarities

Word formation: morphological types All vs. some diagnostics

Semantic type Mono- Adjective- Sound PART- -wa
morphemic shape symbolism adjective '-ish

Deverbative BEST

'Noun' Exx

Special

characteristics

PHYSICAL
PROPERTY

AGE

VALUE

HUMAN
PROPENSITY

yes

COLOUR —

DIMENSION yes

yes

yes

yes

yes

a few

yes

yes

yes yes

a few yes

extensively yes

yes

a few yes yes

yes

yes

no

yes

no

no

N and Adj Plural

INCH implying A

N/Adj recategorization

N and Adj Plural

Indirect CAUS

INCH implying A

Morphologically N, syntactically

and semantically ADJ

Indirect CAUS