The boxer sleeps. Un générique particulier : le générique intitulatif

Abstract

This article analyses the generic interpretation of a singular definite noun phrase containing a discrete noun within the sentence The boxer sleeps, which is to be found in a piece of literary fiction by Tennessee Williams. This sentence is construed as a painting title in which the simple present form of the verb and the subject noun phrase both express some kind of generic meaning. The noun phrase is seen as a titling generic phrase typical of visual works of art, which refers to a type (vs. occurrence) which can only exist together with an occurrential work of art. Both sentence and context provide the linguistic clues for the correct interpretation of the sentence as a painting title and that of its subject noun phrase as a titling generic noun phrase typical of visual works of art.

Keywords

• sémantique
• analyse de discours
• syntagme nominal singulier défini
• présent simple
• titres de tableaux
• type et occurrences