Il nome proprio nella struttura del sintagma nominale

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to analyse Italian nominal groups containing proper nouns. The article discusses two syntagma types with elliptical structure <common noun + proper noun> as well as analogical structures where the common and proper nouns are joined by the preposition “di”. The classification and analysis of nominal groups have been carried out on the basis of the function of the proper noun in the syntagma. Two groups of syntagmas have been distinguished: one with the proper noun functioning as a superordinate constituent and one with the proper noun functioning as a modifier. In the former type (where the proper noun is a superordinate constituent), the common noun functions as a descriptive or restrictive appositive. The syntagmas, where the proper noun functions as a modifier, are of particularly diverse character. In such cases, the possibility to paraphrase them by means of the analysed structures constitutes an additional criterion. Consequently, three syntagma types have been distinguished as represented by the following examples: il progetto Leonardo (which does not allow for an alternative synonymous version, *il progetto di Leonardo), il governo Monti (where the prepositional structure il governo di Monti may be used interchangeably) and un quadro di Rubens (which does not allow for an alternative synonymous version with the ellipsis of the preposition “di” *un quadro Rubens).