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number of items constituting the notional word-classes is not limited while the
number of items constituting the functional word-classes
is limited and can be
given by the list.
The division of language units into notion and function words reveals the
interrelation of lexical and grammatical types of meaning. In notional words the
lexical meaning is predominant. In function words the grammatical meaning
dominates over the lexical one. However, in actual speech
the border line between
notional and function words is not always clear cut. Some notional words develop
the meanings peculiar to function words - e.g. semi-notional words –
to turn, to
get, etc.
Notional words constitute the bulk of the existing word stock while function
words constitute a smaller group of words. Although the number of function words
is limited (there are only about 50 of them in Modern English), they are the most
frequently used units.
It will be obvious that the system of English parts
of speech as presented
here is not the only one possible. All depends on which feature we want to base
our classification. So, for instance, if the classifying criterion is the variability of a
form, we shall
have to unite prepositions, conjunctions, interjections and particles
into one class (cf. H. Sweet’s and O. Jespersen’s classifications). If we classify
words in accordance with the criterion of meaning, we shall distinguish only four
word-classes: nouns,
adjectives, verbs and adverbs. Besides, linguists do not agree
on the number of features needed to distinguish a part of speech. So, for instance,
besides the traditional parts of speech, some linguists distinguish the stative and
response words.
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