"Binding" order of adjectives


Related: [Order of multiple nouns and adjectives modifying the same
noun](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/42407/order-of-multiple-
nouns-and-adjectives-modifying-the-same-noun)

I've come across an instance of the adjective ambiguously belonging to a noun
in songs, but I'm never sure which is the correct interpretation. Since there
seems to be no apparent order for adjectives aside from the most important
first, is there a way to disambiguate them other than using context?

> 長い針が鳴っても 蒼い霧が消えない
>
> (Roughly) Even though a long time has passed, the fog won't clear.

In this example, I think 長い (針が鳴って) is the appropriate binding, where 長い
attaches to the whole noun phrase to make "The hands of a clock ticked for a
long time(a long time has passed)", since the next clause infers a relation in
time. But would it be possible that (長い針)が鳴って would also be a possible
reading, if in a different context?

Such as:

> When the long hand strikes, go to sleep.
>
> 長い針が鳴れば、寝付きなさい

Ignoring the odd phrasing/example, is this construction, (長い針)が鳴る, feasible to
use at all?

* * *

I couldn't think of other examples at the moment, but I don't think that this
is an uncommon occurrence.




長い modifies only 針 because it's the only noun that is located near 長い. 鳴って or
鳴っても is not a noun. The next noun is 霧, but it's too distant.

Note that (長い)針が鳴る is a fairly poetic and unique expression. It is not a
common set phrase.)

In general, you can read how to deal with a noun that has two or more modifies
here: [Are Japanese modifiers "greedy", "anti-greedy", or do they mean
whatever people choose them to
mean?](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/46817/are-japanese-
modifiers-greedy-anti-greedy-or-do-they-mean-whatever-people)




長い modifies only 針 because it's the only noun that is located near 長い. 鳴って or
鳴っても is not a noun. The next noun is 霧, but it's too distant.

Note that (長い)針が鳴る is a fairly poetic and unique expression. It is not a
common set phrase.)

In general, you can read how to deal with a noun that has two or more modifies
here: [Are Japanese modifiers "greedy", "anti-greedy", or do they mean
whatever people choose them to
mean?](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/46817/are-japanese-
modifiers-greedy-anti-greedy-or-do-they-mean-whatever-people)

