Fullnoun

Fullnoun is a term used in linguistic theory and NLP to describe a noun that can function as a complete referential noun phrase without relying on determiners or modifiers to identify its referent. In contrast to partial or context-dependent noun phrases, a fullnoun is considered semantically self-sufficient in suitable contexts.

Usage is primarily discussed in two domains. In theoretical syntax, the concept helps discuss bare noun phrases and how they achieve referential clarity. In NLP, fullnoun tagging can assist coreference resolution and entity recognition by marking nouns that are likely to introduce new referents or maintain referential continuity without determiners.

Fullnoun is orthogonal to standard noun taxonomy such as count versus mass versus proper nouns, and it is not tied to morphological features alone. Whether a noun qualifies as a fullnoun can vary by language and discourse context. Some theories treat fullnouns as a subset of bare nouns or generic NPs.

Examples and interpretation vary by language, but English is often used to illustrate the notion. Bare plurals such as “Dogs bark” can express generic reference where no determiner is needed; “Water is essential” uses a bare mass noun in a general statement. In languages that allow determiner omission, such bare nouns may also introduce a new referent rather than presupposing an existing one.

Origin and status: The term appears in recent literature as a descriptive label for this phenomenon; it is not a universally adopted category. Because the status of bare noun phrases varies by language, the notion of a fullnoun remains a theoretical and annotation device rather than a fixed part of grammar. See also bare noun phrase, coreference, and generic NP.