Abstract
Some established Slovene linguists in their works, included the grammar of the Slovene language, Slovenska slovnica, do not seem to present an unambiguous distinction between relational adjectives on the one hand and qualitative and material adjectives on the other. Uncertainties arise in the following areas: 1. The interpretation of denominal adjectives like gozden/-dni and sodoben/-bni. Should we regard both forms (definite and indefinite) as a qualitative adjective or should we consider its definite form a relational adjective when it appears as a part of a fixed phrase? A review of Slovene and foreign scientific literature shows that the later interpretation is more appropriate. 2. Should we consider the definite form of adjectives in (occasional) fixed phrases (sodobni turist) a relational adjective at all, or should we rather consider it a relational use of qualitative adjectives? The article leaves this question open. 3. Is definiteness as a semantic, grammatical and textual category presented appropriately in Slovenska slovnica, especially in connection with the definite and indefinite Slovene adjectival forms? The article shows that the presentation is misleading. The main purpose for debating the inappropriate passages in the linguistic descriptions of the abovementioned phenomena lays in the author’s need to establish an efficient interpretative apparatus in order to study the relationship between the definite and indefinite adjectival form and definiteness, especially in those contexts where the choice of one or another form is difficult. The author thus decides to talk about the qualitative, material and relational use of adjectives, instead of qualitative, material and relational adjectives.
Published Version
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