pronoun ‘one’ for abstract noun?

Yes, I think I do agree with both points.

Incidentally, the pro-form "one" is not a pronoun but a common noun.

Although semantically "one" refers to "color" (interpretations are by definition internal), I think that syntactically it can only refer to "interpretation," that is, to the subject complement, because it is in apposition to it. It cannot refer to the subject because it simply cannot point to it. I therefore don't think the sentence is a good one. Perhaps, it could be fixed as follows:

Existing only internally, color is an interpretation of wavelengths.

This even shows cohesion with the previous sentence in the text (it is only inside our heads that any of this becomes color).

@billj posted:

Incidentally, the pro-form "one" is not a pronoun but a common noun.

I also disagree. It is defined as a pronoun almost everywhere. If you say it is a common noun, you should specify where. I don't think this categorical approach  — it is not this, it is that — is of much help unless some source or explanation is provided. There may be different opinions in grammar and they may all be valid to a certain point.

Hi,

@Gustavo, Co-Moderator posted:

Although semantically "one" refers to "color" (interpretations are by definition internal), I think that syntactically it can only refer to "interpretation," that is, to the subject complement, because it is in apposition to it. It cannot refer to the subject because it simply cannot point to it. I therefore don't think the sentence is a good one. Perhaps, it could be fixed as follows:

Existing only internally, color is an interpretation of wavelengths.

This even shows cohesion with the previous sentence in the text (it is only inside our heads that any of this becomes color).

I second Gustavo's answer here: 'One' refers back to 'an interpretation'. 'One' is not normally used to refer back to an abstract/uncountable noun.

@ahmed_btm posted:

I second Gustavo's answer here: 'One' refers back to 'an interpretation'. 'One' is not normally used to refer back to an abstract/uncountable noun.

That's a very good point, Ahmed. "One" could only refer to "color" if it were a count noun, for example:

- Wavelengths are interpreted as colors, and the one we know as white is actually composed of wavelengths of different colors.

@Gustavo, Co-Moderator posted:

I also disagree. It is defined as a pronoun almost everywhere. If you say it is a common noun, you should specify where. I don't think this categorical approach  — it is not this, it is that — is of much help unless some source or explanation is provided. There may be different opinions in grammar and they may all be valid to a certain point.

The pro-form "one" is a common count noun on two counts:

1. Unlike pronouns it occurs readily with determiners.

2. Like most common nouns, but unlike pronouns, it inflects for number (one ~ones).

For example,

She left us six pears; this one is riper than the other ones.

@billj posted:

Yes, I think I do agree with both points.

Incidentally, the pro-form "one" is not a pronoun but a common noun.

@Gustavo, Co-Moderator posted:

Although semantically "one" refers to "color" (interpretations are by definition internal), I think that syntactically it can only refer to "interpretation," that is, to the subject complement, because it is in apposition to it. It cannot refer to the subject because it simply cannot point to it. I therefore don't think the sentence is a good one. Perhaps, it could be fixed as follows:

Existing only internally, color is an interpretation of wavelengths.

This even shows cohesion with the previous sentence in the text (it is only inside our heads that any of this becomes color).

Hi, BillJ and Gustavo, thank you for your support as always. The fixed one -Existing only internally, color is an interpretation of wavelengths. - looks really wonderful, I feel.

@billj posted:

The pro-form "one" is a common count noun on two counts:

1. Unlike pronouns it occurs readily with determiners.

2. Like most common nouns, but unlike pronouns, it inflects for number (one ~ones).

For example,

She left us six pears; this one is riper than the other ones.

And, unlike all other common nouns, "one" cannot be defined. Wouldn't it make more sense to say it substitutes for a common noun? That is how pronouns are defined.

@Gustavo, Co-Moderator posted:

And, unlike all other common nouns, "one" cannot be defined. Wouldn't it make more sense to say it substitutes for a common noun? That is how pronouns are defined.

Sorry; I overlooked your post.

I don't think so. The pro-form "one" is defined by its antecedent, one that is not a full NP, as in the example I gave earlier.

Please see my previous answer for the reasons that the pro-form "one" is not a pronoun.