Variation sur une coupure : « short of » et « shy of », entre division et discernement

Abstract

After reintroducing the analysis of the English lexeme SHY discussed in P. Muller (2015a), this paper further develops the views on SHORT OF that were only sketched at the end of that previous study. Using the concepts that are available in A. Culioli’s theory, it is claimed that SHY OF marks the interruption of a QLT2 continuity between two entities X and Y, which causes a hiatus in QNT2 to emerge. By contrast, SHORT OF normally interrupts a QNT2 continuity, which is significant regarding QLT2 only in some contexts. With the first construction, Y is construed as a way of grasping the qualitative identity of X (which makes it an “opérateur de discernement” in D. Paillard’s terminology) and the second imposes a zoning of the notional domain built around Y (whereby it can be called an “opérateur de division”). Although the two constructions are analysed differently on the notional level, real examples suggest that they can be brought together on the enunciative level of analysis, since SHORT OF can sometimes be understood as attributing some “intentionality” to X, which is the norm with SHY OF. SHORT OF is then reanalysed on the notional level as marking the same operation (“discernement”) as SHY OF.

Keywords

• shy
• short
• zoning
• qualitative identity
• hiatus
• intentionality