Adjective Classes in Typological Perspective

Abstract

Abstract This chapter is concerned with adjectives in the narrow sense-that is, descriptive adjectives such as ‘ red; ‘ heavy; and ‘ loyal’-leaving aside other types of noun modifier, demonstratives, and interrogatives. I suggest that a distinct word class ‘ adjectives’ can be recognized for every human language. In some languages, adjectives have similar grammatical properties to nouns, in some to verbs, in some to both nouns and verbs, and in some to neither. I suggest that there are always some grammatical criteria-sometimes rather subtle-for distinguishing the adjective class from other word classes.