Extract from an Interview with Eglantine Lady Fantod, Dowager Professor of Philology at Cambridge University—Freya Shipley SpecGram Vol CLIII, No 3 Contents Cartoon Theories of Linguistics—Part ז—Synchronic vs. Diachronic—Phineas Q. Phlogiston, Ph.D.

An Analysis of easy-Type Adjectives

by A. Word

In certain academic circles, there is a well-known category of adjectives, often referred to as easy-type adjectives. These include hard, difficult and others. The characteristic patterns of easy-type adjectives are given in (1).

(1)

A. Word is easy to get along with.
It is easy to get along with A. Word.
A. Word was very easy for Merry to get along with.
It was very easy for Merry to get along with A. Word.

This is not the kind of phenomenon we will be discussing. (Though all of the above statements are true!)

Instead, I want to give dating tips to the average unbound morpheme just looking for a good time on a Saturday night.

If, like me, you are a word who is not quite adventurous enough to join a Government & Binding Club, but neither are you a prudish closed-class preposition who sits at home and never makes any additions to their circle of friends, then here is what you need to know.

First, a couple of warnings to those of you new to the Dating Scene in the Big Lexicon:

On the other hand, adjectives are usually pretty mellow, and many are just looking for some fun. In particular, many of what I shall call “easy-type adjectives” are, well, easy.

Below is a quick guide to adjectives you are likely to meet when you go out on a Saturday night.

Remember, this is just a guide to give you the confidence you need to approach a good-looking word and incorporate yourself into the conversation. Always use your own best judgment. And always practice safe syntax.

Extract from an Interview with Eglantine Lady Fantod, Dowager Professor of Philology at Cambridge University—Freya Shipley
Cartoon Theories of Linguistics—Part ז—Synchronic vs. Diachronic—Phineas Q. Phlogiston, Ph.D.
SpecGram Vol CLIII, No 3 Contents