The Conceptualization of Quantity in Contemporary Czech: Collective Constructions
The Conceptualization of Quantity in Contemporary Czech: Collective Constructions

Summary/Abstract: The paper discusses ways of expressing large quantities in contemporary Czech, with a focus on constructions of the type stádo koní ʻa herd of horsesʼ, that is, constructions which conceptualise large numbers of individuals not as simple sets of independent units but as groups. These constructions consist of a more general countable noun denoting the type of group (e.g., stádo ʻa herdʼ) plus a genitive plural form of a noun denoting the “grouped” entity (e.g., koní ʻhorses-gen. plʼ). Such constructions are called “collective” and are viewed as an analytical way of conceptualising plurality. Using the theoretical background of the cognitive approach to language, and data retrieved from the corpus of contemporary written Czech, the paper discusses selected cases of this construction (i.e., stádo ʻa herdʼ, hejno ʻa flockʼ, smečka ʻa packʼ + a noun in genitive plural form), primarily with respect to animals, but also extended to other entities, including humans.

• Details
• Contents