0 INTRODUCTION

5. CORPORA AND METHODOLOGY
(105) And indeed, all that I have yet seen, seem to have been rotten
Wood before the petrification was begun; (E3 1665 Hooke The
life and work of Robert Hooke)
(106) and draw from them ij. arch lynes, as you did in the first
conclusion, for making of a threlyke tria~gle. (E1 1551 Record
The path-way to knowledge, containing the first principles of
geometrie)
(107) and boyle them to the consumption of the third part, in an
earthen pot nealled and close couered, so that no ayre go foorth:
(E2 1602 Clowes Treatise for the artificial cure of struma)
b. Their function in the superordinate structure. Nominals may act as: i) subjects
(cf. [108]), ii) objects (cf. [109]), iii) predicatives (cf. [110]) or iv) complements of a
preposition (cf. [111]). Furthermore, as Fanego points out, they may also occur absolutely,
that is, “without being formally dependent on a higher matrix” (Fanego 1996: 108), as in
(112) below. Nominalizations occurring absolutely are generally found in chapter
headings, but can also appear as supplements 15 (cf. [113]) and modifiers (cf. [114]).
(108) If Acrimony of humours, boiling of the blood, want of rest and
sleep, accompany Deseases of the Lungs and brest, you may add to
the Emulsions two drams of white Poppy-seed, and as much
Lettice-seed, and change the Syrup of Violets, and Venus-hair into
those of White-poppy and Water-Lillies. (E3 1678 Charas Royal
pharmacopoea)
(109) It is thought vnfit by diuers learned men to blister Childrens heads
with Cantharides, it hath been seene to cause much paine and
pissing of bloud: (E2 1602 Clowes Treatise for the artificial cure
of struma)
15 The term supplement is used here following Huddleston et al. (2002: 1350 and ff.) for a variety of
elements which occupy a position in linear sequence without being clearly integrated into the syntactic
structure of the sentence. Among such elements are appositive structures in general (a University lecturer,
Dr. Brown), content clauses (The excuse he gave, that the train had been late, seemed satisfactory.) and
interjections (Ah so you were there!), among many others.
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