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Collective noun

In linguistics, a collective noun is a word referring to a collection of things taken as a whole. Most collective nouns in everyday speech are not specific to one kind of thing.[1] For example, the collective noun "group" can be applied to people ("a group of people"), or dogs ("a group of dogs"), or objects ("a group of stones").

Not to be confused with mass noun, collective number, or collective numeral.

Some collective nouns are specific to one kind of thing, especially terms of venery, which identify groups of specific animals. For example, "pride" as a term of venery always refers to lions, never to dogs or cows. Other examples come from popular culture such as a group of owls, which is called a "parliament".[2]


Different forms of English handle verb agreement with collective count nouns differently. For example, users of British English generally accept that collective nouns take either singular or plural verb forms depending on context and the metonymic shift that it implies, while in some other forms of English the verb agreement is less flexible.

Derivation[edit]

Morphological derivation accounts for many collective words and various languages have common affixes for denoting collective nouns. Because derivation is a slower and less productive word formation process than the more overtly syntactical morphological methods, there are fewer collectives formed this way. As with all derived words, derivational collectives often differ semantically from the original words, acquiring new connotations and even new denotations.

Affixes[edit]

Proto-Indo-European[edit]

Early Proto-Indo-European used the suffix *eh₂ to form collective nouns, which evolved into the Latin neuter plural ending -a, as in "datum/data". Late Proto-Indo-European used the ending *t, which evolved into the English ending -th, as in "young/youth".

English[edit]

The English endings -age and -ade often signify a collective. Sometimes, the relationship is easily recognizable: baggage, drainage, blockade. Though the etymology is plain to see, the derived words take on a distinct meaning. This is a productive ending, as evidenced in the recent coin, "signage".

German[edit]

German uses the prefix ge- to create collectives. The root word often undergoes umlaut and suffixation as well as receiving the ge- prefix. Nearly all nouns created in that way are of neuter gender:

" was founded in El Cerrito, California" (but in British English, "Creedence Clearwater Revival were founded ...")

Creedence Clearwater Revival

" have won the match" (but in American English, "Arsenal has won the game")

Arsenal

" is a video game company headquartered in Japan".

Nintendo

Grammatical number

including names for groups

List of animal names

Mass noun

Measure words

Plural

Plurale tantum

Synesis

Fanous, Samuel (2014). A Conspiracy of Ravens: a compendium of collective nouns for birds. Oxford: Bodleian Library.  9781851244096.

ISBN

Fanous, Samuel (2015). A Barrel of Monkeys: a compendium of collective nouns for animals. Oxford: Bodleian Library.  9781851244454.

ISBN

George, Patrick (2009). A drove of bullocks. Patrick George.  978-0-9562558-0-8.

ISBN

George, Patrick (2009). A filth of starlings. Patrick George.  978-0-9562558-1-5.

ISBN

Hodgkin, John (1909). "Proper Terms: An attempt at a rational explanation of the meanings of the Collection of Phrases in 'The Book of St Albans', 1486, entitled 'The Compaynys of besties and fowls and similar lists", Transactions of the Philological Society 1907–1910, Part III, pp. 1–187, Kegan, Paul, Trench & Trübner & Co, Ltd, London.

. An Exaltation of Larks, or The "Veneral" Game. Penguin. (First published Grossman Publishers 1968.) (Penguin first reprint 1977 ISBN 0-14-004536-8); in 1993 it was republished in Penguin with The Ultimate Edition as part of the title with the ISBN 0-14-017096-0 (paperback), ISBN 978-0-670-30044-0 (hardcover)

Lipton, James

Shulman, Alon (2009). A Mess of Iguanas... A Whoop of Gorillas: An Amazement of Animal Facts. Penguin.  978-1-84614-255-0.

ISBN

Collective Nouns

"The companyes of bestys & foules" (section from the Book of St Albans)