Ordered Chaos: The Interpretation of English Noun-Noun Compounds (UC Publications in Linguistics)

This work presents a model for novel compound interpretation using Cognitive Grammar and schema theory. The model, based on analysis of established compounds and responses to novel compounds, claims that speakers try using real-world schemas attached to both element nouns to construct a relationship between them by matching already established patterns. When this is impossible, speakers often "metaphorize" the head noun.