Nouns and Noun Phrases - University of Macau Library

640 Syntax of Dutch: nouns and noun phrases
II. Binominal constructions that can only be used as arguments
When the construction as a whole refers to a geographical entity, N1 can be a noun
that denotes the set of geographical entities that the referent of the entire binominal
construction is a member of. Some typical examples are given in (187). In examples
like these the modification relation is typically bidirectional: while it is clear that
the proper noun enables the hearer to identify the intended river, state or city, it is at
the same time expressed that the proper noun refers to a river, a state and a city,
respectively. Whether both directions are indeed activated may also be related to the
extra-linguistic knowledge of the hearer: in (187b), it will be prominent for those
speakers who are aware of the fact that the proper noun Utrecht is used both for the
province Utrecht and its capital city. Note that in these cases N1 is typically
preceded by a definite article, and that the proper noun may also be preceded by an
article, provided that it also has one when used in isolation.
(187) a. de rivier de Amstel ‘the river Amstel’
b. de provincie/stad Utrecht ‘the province of Utrecht’
c. de stad Amsterdam ‘the city of Amsterdam’
The bidirectional relation also seems to hold for examples like (188). This is
perhaps not so clear in (188a), where it is clearly the proper noun that modifies the
noun familie and not vice versa, but it is in (188b), where it is simultaneously
expressed that we are dealing with a poetess called Vasalis, and that Vasalis is a
poetess. Again, the use of a definite article seems obligatory.
(188) a. de familie Jansen
the family Jansen
‘the Jansen family’
b. de dichteres Vasalis
the poetess Vasalis
Note that the order of the common and the proper noun can sometimes be reversed,
as is shown in (189a). By using this example we are referring to the person Jan
Wolkers in his capacity as a writer (as opposed to his quality as, e.g., a sculptor). It
seems reasonable, however, to not consider this example as a binominal
construction but as the restrictive counterpart of the construction in (189b), where
we are clearly dealing with an appositive noun phrase.
(189) a. Jan Wolkers de schrijver is erg geliefd in Nederland.
Jan Wolkers the writer is much loved in the.Netherlands
b. Jan Wolkers, de (beroemde) schrijver, houdt hier vanavond een lezing.
Jan Wolkers the famous writer gives here tonight a lecture
‘Jan Wolkers, the (famous) writer, will give a lecture here tonight.’
Examples like (190) seem close to the examples in (189) but may be crucially
different as the phrase following the proper noun may simply function as a surname,
which is orthographically represented by writing N2 with a capital and may be
reflected by the fact that N2 has lost its descriptive content; the person referred to by