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Evaluative Meanings and Disciplinary Values - eTheses Repository ...

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dictionaries published in the UK several of these words are not listed as adjectives (e.g.<br />

COBUILD 5th edition (Sinclair, 2006) lists absorbed as an adjective only with the interested<br />

meaning), several English-Japanese dictionaries provide a much fuller list of their adjectival<br />

meanings (e.g. the unabridged GENIUS English-Japanese dictionary (Konishi & Minamide,<br />

2002) lists absorbed as an adjective also with the state of absorption meaning). Such<br />

differences may be due to the fact that the former prioritizes practical description (i.e. how<br />

language is used in real life) whereas the latter focuses more on theoretical description (i.e.<br />

how language is theoretically systematized in a dictionary). Related to this are differences in<br />

policy with regard to the treatment of ed forms which some linguists regard as the past<br />

participle of a verb <strong>and</strong> others regard as adjectives, particularly when followed by a<br />

prepositional phrase (e.g. I am bored by this; he is involved in drug smuggling). Following the<br />

description listed in English-Japanese dictionaries, I decided to opt for the more<br />

comprehensive approach, <strong>and</strong> to include the words with ed form followed by the preposition<br />

by as adjectives in this group.<br />

As might be expected, this pattern describes relations of power <strong>and</strong> force between things.<br />

However, as Table 9.13 below shows, this group can also express an absence of effect - the<br />

adjective unaffected st<strong>and</strong>s at the top of the frequency list for ALC, <strong>and</strong> in second place in BC:<br />

Order ALC Freq. BC Freq.<br />

1 unaffected 13 possessed 30<br />

2 threatened 5 unaffected 14<br />

3 impressed 4 absorbed 12<br />

4 confused 4 threatened 7<br />

5 possessed 3 unencumbered 3<br />

6 surprised 1 perturbed 2<br />

7 concerned 1 concerned 2<br />

8 daunted 1 obsessed 1<br />

9 disappointed 1 surprised 1<br />

10 conspicuous 1 intrigued 1<br />

11 untouched 1 convinced 1<br />

12 untainted 1 confused 1<br />

13 stronger 1 impressed 1<br />

14 fascinated 1<br />

15 unhampered 1<br />

16 encumbered 1<br />

17 notable 1<br />

Total 37 80<br />

Prop. 32% 68%<br />

Table 9.13. The AFFECTEDNESS group in A DJ by N<br />

178

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