Intensional grouping
Connor Ferris · 2014
Throughout the previous chapters, we have limited ourselves to considering structures and phrases containing only single adjectives. Phrases with multiple adjectives are actually much rarer, in terms of running text (there is some evidence to suggest that they form around 5% to 7% of both attributive and ordinary predicative adjectival expressions in normal speech). However, they are not in any way remarkable; they are fully grammatical; and they raise some further interesting issues of interpretation. These will be discussed in terms of attributive adjectives since all other adjectival positions reflect essentially the same possibilities; similarly the discussion can safely concern itself with pairs of adjectives only, since, in respect of relationship, no fresh issue will be raised by multiple occurrences with larger numbers of adjectives arising out of iteration of the same processes.