El Orden de Los Adjetivos Multiples en Espanol (The Sequence of Multiple Adjectives in Spanish).

While the prenominal or postnominal position of descriptive adjectives in Spanish has been widely discussed, there is a partial aspect of this topic which is either ignored or dealt with in a perfunctory manner, namely, the possible existence of a semantic principle determining the sequence of descriptive adjectives in coordinate series of two or more according to the qualities described. Such neglect is due to the apparent lack of order in the use of these adjectives. By compiling a considerable number of examples (1,645) from 28 contemporary Spanish writers, it has been possible to observe that the writers do tend to follow instinctively a certain order of priority, unless they wish to deviate from the usual practice for reasons of style or expressiveness. The main findings are: (1) adjectives of similar physical qualities tend to be presented with the most visible, apparent or common first; (2) with adjectives of dissimilar physical qualities, the aspect, shape or size tends to take precedence over other sense qualities; (3) with adjectives of abstract qualities, the tendency is to place the most specific, or the negative, last; (4) when concrete and abstract qualities are combined, the former nearly always come first. (Author/CAM)