Post-head elements: defining and specifying

Postmodified and complemented noun phrases are extremely frequent in academic English because of the frequent need for definition and specification. All the types of postmodification and complementation described in The noun phrase are used. Prepositional phrases are very frequent, and may consist of several occurring together (noun phrases in green, prepositions beginning post-head elements in bold type):

From their differing positions within the family, men and women separately weighed the potential benefits and risks of migration.

The Bragg scattering of random, non-stationary surface gravity waves by random topography on a gently sloping bottom is investigated.

Embedded prepositional phrases are common. This is another important aspect of integration the maximum amount of information in the noun phrase. (noun phrases in green, prepositions beginning embedded phrases in bold type in the examples)

[a vole is a small, mouse-like creature]

In a field study on the behavioural response of grey-sided voles Clethrionomys rufocanus to predator odour, ear tattoos were used for individual marking of the vole in the field.

a field study
	on the behavioural response
		of grey-sided voles Clethrionomys rufocanus
		to predator odour

 

This article demonstrates the connection between journalism, patriotism, and the culture of public discussion in late Victorian Britain.

the connection
	between journalism, patriotism and the culture
		of public discussion
			in late Victorian Britain

 

 

 

Postmodification by non-finite clauses is frequent in academic style (noun phrases in green, postmodifying clauses in bold type):

The Latina writers interviewed consider their work to have a legitimate place in the canon of North American literature.
(compare the finite alternative: The Latina writers who were interviewed…)

[from an article on nutrition, involving giving restricted amounts of food to laboratory rats]
In previous studies the precise measurement of spontaneous activity was not possible in experiments involvingthe laboratory rat and, therefore, the energy expended in relation to activity and its role in adaptation to feed restriction could not be assessed.

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