Mais Entre Deux Adjectifs

This is the analysis of a specific use of the French conjunction mais, when situated in an attributive structure, between two adjectives: p mais q —» SN + V {être) + Adj. , mais Adj. As this simple syntactic pattern allows a variety of different possible semantic interpretations, my chief object was to establish the paradigm of the logical relations leading to the correct understanding of p mais q. When and if possible, the formal indicators of each different acceptation of the structure and its stylistic potential have been specified.