1 - Introduction

Summary

Aims and objectives

The aim of this study is to shed light on certain aspects of the noun phrase which over the years have proved problematic and which, as a result, have been the topic of a considerable amount of debate. The aspects dealt with in part I1 predominantly concern the internal structure of noun phrases containing two nominal elements. At the heart of the discussions in this part is the issue of headedness; other aspects, such as referentiality and predication, definiteness, determination and quantification will, however, also play an important role and will be inextricably woven into the discussion. As such, it is hoped, this part of the study will not only offer plausible and revealing analyses of specific NP constructions, but will also contribute to our understanding of the relations between and functions of the various elements within the NP in general. In part II2 the focus of attention will shift towards the cognitive and pragmatic factors underlying the production and interpretation of noun phrases. From a pragmatic point of view, information packaging, i.e. the speaker's choice of the most effective linguistic form to achieve his/her communicative objectives, will be explored in detail, while from a cognitive point of view an attempt will be made to explain certain linguistic phenomena in terms of the way knowledge is stored in and retrieved from the mind. The division of labour will, however, not be as strict as these descriptions may suggest.