摘要：The goal of this paper is to uncover the characteristic properties of postnominal
adjectives and to describe selected samples in the generative framework of X-bar
theory. After a descriptive account of the data we will classify the superficially similar
constructions into eight subgroups and point out the factors determining the
function of adjectives as attributes, predicates or adverbials. The focus of the
generative analysis is on the syntax of those uninflected bare adjectives which
immediately follow the modifyee without intonational break as attributive modifiers,
as for example constructions of the type Forelle blau (trout blue, 'cooked trout'),
Rahmspinat tiefgefroren (cream spinach deep-frozen, 'frozen spinach with cream'),
Aktie gelb (share yellow, i.e. the share of the German postal mail), and Whisky pur
('whiskey-straight'). In all of these cases the modified NP is foregrounded and the
construction does normally not occur clause internally. For the classification, the
distinction of idiomatic and non-idomatic complex terms is of primary relevance.
The intermediate levels of projection assumed in X-bar theory allow for proper
syntactical distinction of these two types: The postnominal adjective in idiomatic
expressions (Forelle blau) and in complex proper names {Aktie gelb, Henkell trocken,
Henkell dry, i.e. a brandname of champagne) are analysed as adjuncts to N°.
Adjectives in non-ididomatic expressions (Schnitzel paniert, 'Vienna schnitzel',
Rahmspinat tiefgefroren) are analysed as adjuncts to N \ Finally we explain our
assumption that although at first sight it might appear so, those postnominal
attributive constructions do not give rise to grammaticalisation of a new type of word
order.
