Un cas particulier de la relation partie-tout: les compléments adnominaux en à avec et sans article défini anaphorique

Abstract

This paper deals with the syntax and the interpretation of French noun phrases of the type N à N where a part-whole relationship is involved. We focus on the differences arising from the presence (un verre au pied doré/cassé) or absence of a determiner (un verre à pied [doré]) before the N denoting the part. We argue that both the adnominal complements à N (Mod) and à LE N Mod function as adjectival constituents that qualify the noun denoting the whole, but the actualization of the part noun can be linguistically effective only in cases where the definite determiner, A-bound according to Guéron’s (1985, 2005) hypothesis, is present. The discussion considers the consequences of our analysis.

Keywords

• part-whole relationship
• inalienable possession
• noun phrase
• adnominal complement
• anaphora