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Lists of word categories

Posted: February 28th, 2015, 1:35 pm
by Jonathan Robie
For a lot of queries people are interested in, it would be very helpful to have lists of words by category, eg:
  • Abstract nouns
  • Verbs of perception
  • Verbs of speech
For instance, when someone asks about articular abstract nouns, it would be easy to write queries to find them if I had a list of abstract nouns.

I'd love to have a lexical catalog that classifies words along these lines. Does anyone know of one, perhaps in a book (especially an out-of-copyright book ;->)

Re: Lists of word categories

Posted: February 28th, 2015, 3:13 pm
by cwconrad
Jonathan Robie wrote:For a lot of queries people are interested in, it would be very helpful to have lists of words by category, eg:
  • Abstract nouns
  • Verbs of perception
  • Verbs of speech
For instance, when someone asks about articular abstract nouns, it would be easy to write queries to find them if I had a list of abstract nouns.

I'd love to have a lexical catalog that classifies words along these lines. Does anyone know of one, perhaps in a book (especially an out-of-copyright book ;->)
Abstract nouns is a broader category, but for perception and speech tt seems like a no-brainer to point to Louw & Nida:
24 Sensory Events and Statesd:

Outline of Subdomains

A See (24.1–24.51)
B Hear (24.52–24.70)
C Smell (24.71)
D Taste (24.72)
E Touch, Feel (24.73–24.76)
F Pain, Suffering (24.77–24.94)
G General Sensory Perception (24.95)
33 Communication

Outline of Subdomains:

A Language (33.1–33.8)
B Word, Passage (33.9–33.10)
C Discourse Types (33.11–33.25)
D Language Levels (33.26–33.34)
E Written Language (33.35–33.68)
F Speak, Talk (33.69–33.108)
G Sing, Lament (33.109–33.116)
H Keep Silent (33.117–33.125)
I Name (33.126–33.133)
J Interpret, Mean, Explain (33.134–33.155)
K Converse, Discuss (33.156–33.160)
L Ask For, Request (33.161–33.177)
M Pray (33.178–33.179)
N Question, Answer (33.180–33.188)
O Inform, Announce (33.189–33.217)
P Assert, Declare (33.218–33.223)
Q Teach (33.224–33.250)
R Speak Truth, Speak Falsehood (33.251–33.255)
S Preach, Proclaim (33.256–33.261)
T Witness, Testify (33.262–33.273)
U Profess Allegiance (33.274)
V Admit, Confess, Deny (33.275–33.277)
W Agree (33.278–33.280)
X Foretell, Tell Fortunes (33.281–33.285)
Y Promise (33.286–33.290)
Z Threaten (33.291–33.293)
A’ Advise (33.294–33.298)
B’ Urge, Persuade (33.299–33.306)
C’ Call (33.307–33.314)
D’ Invite (33.315–33.318)
E’ Insist (33.319–33.322)
F’ Command, Order (33.323–33.332)
G’ Law, Regulation, Ordinance (33.333–33.342)
H’ Recommend, Propose (33.343–33.346)
I’ Intercede (33.347–33.348)
J’ Thanks (33.349–33.353)
K’ Praise (33.354–33.364)
L’ Flatter (33.365–33.367)
M’ Boast (33.368–33.373)
N’ Foolish Talk (33.374–33.381)
O’ Complain (33.382–33.386)
P’ Insult, Slander (33.387–33.403)
Q’ Gossip (33.404–33.405)
R’ Mock, Ridicule (33.406–33.411)
S’ Criticize (33.412–33.416)
T’ Rebuke (33.417–33.422)
U’ Warn (33.423–33.425)
V’ Accuse, Blame (33.426–33.434)
W’ Defend, Excuse (33.435–33.438)
X’ Dispute, Debate (33.439–33.445)
Y’ Argue, Quarrel (33.446–33.454)
Z’ Oppose, Contradict (33.455–33.458)
A” Prophesy (33.459–33.462)
B” Swear, Put Under Oath, Vow (33.463–33.469)
C” Bless, Curse (33.470–33.475)
D” Non-Verbal Communication (33.476–33.489)

Re: Lists of word categories

Posted: March 2nd, 2015, 12:36 pm
by Jonathan Robie
Agreed - that should have been obvious to me.

Aside from Louw and Nida and frequency lists (which are easy to generate), are there other lists of word categories that are particularly helpful?