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The Rise of Articles

Bernd Heine and Tania Kuteva

in The Changing Languages of Europe

This chapter is devoted to one particular functional domain: that of definite and indefinite reference. Specifically, it concerns the system of articles found in European languages. Obligatory ... More

This chapter is devoted to one particular functional domain: that of definite and indefinite reference. Specifically, it concerns the system of articles found in European languages. Obligatory markers for definite and indefinite reference are cross-linguistically not very common. In the languages of (western) Europe, however, they are a salient structural characteristic. This has not always been the case: two millennia ago there were essentially no real articles in the languages of Europe. The main goal of the chapter is to show how articles are spreading throughout Europe.Less

Things that Count: Null # and Others

Hagit Borer

in Structuring Sense Volume I: In Name Only

This chapter examines the definite article in English, analysing it as a range assigner not only to d, the node that heads DP, but also to #, the node that heads #P (Quantity Phrase, aka Number ... More

This chapter examines the definite article in English, analysing it as a range assigner not only to d, the node that heads DP, but also to #, the node that heads #P (Quantity Phrase, aka Number Phrase). It also discusses range assignment by heads vs. range assignment by specifiers, together with the different structural predictions made by such assignment.Less

Lecture II, 14

David Langslow

in Jacob Wackernagel, Lectures on Syntax: With Special Reference to Greek, Latin, and Germanic

After the usual introduction to the terminology and early theory of the article among the parts of speech, this chapter gives a survey of the distribution of the definite article through ... More

After the usual introduction to the terminology and early theory of the article among the parts of speech, this chapter gives a survey of the distribution of the definite article through non-Indo-European as well as Indo-European languages. It sketches the age and source (the demonstrative pronoun) of the emergence of the definite article in Greek, Latin, and Germanic, and then discusses its main functions and (Lecture 15) some special uses, including in combination with numerals and with pronouns, and when it is used to make a Noun Phrase from (e.g.) a noun in the genitive, a prepositional phrase, or an adverb. Lecture 16 is devoted to the omission of the article in (e.g.) forms of address, names, poetry, proverbs, idioms, and under foreign influence; the lecture concludes with brief remarks on the indefinite article.Less

One is the Loneliest Number

Hagit Borer

in Structuring Sense Volume I: In Name Only

This chapter investigates the properties of the Modern Hebrew (henceforth Hebrew) singular in its different indefinite and definite instantiations. It is here that much of this variation is best ... More

This chapter investigates the properties of the Modern Hebrew (henceforth Hebrew) singular in its different indefinite and definite instantiations. It is here that much of this variation is best illustrated. The investigation of the singular will further serve as a springboard to discussing the properties of Hebrew cardinal determiners in general, the status of specifier cardinals vs. head cardinals, and the interaction, in Hebrew, between the assignment of range to d and to #.Less

Lecture II, 16

David Langslow

in Jacob Wackernagel, Lectures on Syntax: With Special Reference to Greek, Latin, and Germanic

After the usual introduction to the terminology and early theory of the article among the parts of speech, this chapter gives a survey of the distribution of the definite article through ... More

After the usual introduction to the terminology and early theory of the article among the parts of speech, this chapter gives a survey of the distribution of the definite article through non-Indo-European as well as Indo-European languages. It sketches the age and source (the demonstrative pronoun) of the emergence of the definite article in Greek,Latin, and Germanic, and then discusses its main functions and (Lecture 15) some special uses, including in combination with numerals and with pronouns, and when it is used to make a Noun Phrase from (e.g.) a noun in the genitive, a prepositional phrase, or an adverb. Lecture 16 is devoted to the omission of the article in (e.g.) forms of address, names, poetry, proverbs, idioms, and under foreign influence; the lecture concludes with brief remarks on the indefinite article.Less

Lecture II, 15

David Langslow

in Jacob Wackernagel, Lectures on Syntax: With Special Reference to Greek, Latin, and Germanic

After the usual introduction to the terminology and early theory of the article among the parts of speech,this chapter gives a survey of the distribution of the definite article through ... More

After the usual introduction to the terminology and early theory of the article among the parts of speech,this chapter gives a survey of the distribution of the definite article through non-Indo-European as well as Indo-European languages. It sketches the age and source (the demonstrative pronoun) of the emergence of the definite article in Greek, Latin, and Germanic, and then discusses its main functions and (Lecture 15) some special uses, including in combination with numerals and with pronouns, and when it is used to make a Noun Phrase from (e.g.) a noun in the genitive, a prepositional phrase, or an adverb. Lecture 16 is devoted to the omission of the article in (e.g.) forms of address, names, poetry, proverbs, idioms, and under foreign influence; the lecture concludes with brief remarks on the indefinite article.Less

A parametric shift in the D‐system in Early Middle English: relativization, articles, adjectival inflection, and indeterminates *

Akira Watanabe

in Historical Syntax and Linguistic Theory

This chapter proposes that the shift in the classification of a certain set of features located in the D head is responsible for the loss of the indeterminate system, the changes in the ... More

This chapter proposes that the shift in the classification of a certain set of features located in the D head is responsible for the loss of the indeterminate system, the changes in the relativization strategies, the loss of the weak‐strong distinction in the adjectival inflection, and the appearance of the definite article during the Early Middle English period.Less

Parametric changes in the history of the Greek article

Cristina Guardiano

in Grammatical Change: Origins, Nature, Outcomes

This chapter accounts for two changes that distinguish Modern Greek from Ancient (Classical and New Testament) Greek: the requirement in Modern Greek that proper names occur with a definite article, ... More

This chapter accounts for two changes that distinguish Modern Greek from Ancient (Classical and New Testament) Greek: the requirement in Modern Greek that proper names occur with a definite article, and the rise of an indefinite article. It argues that these two changes are related. In Ancient Greek, nominal expressions could receive a singular count interpretation with a null expletive D head. The rise of overt indefinite articles indicates that the feature count had come to be grammaticalized (that is, required spellout). Once this requirement was in place, a null expletive in D became generally unavailable, requiring that the overt determiner in D select a proper name.Less

Definite Reference in Old and Modern French: The Rise and Fall of DP

PAUL BOUCHER

in Grammaticalization and Parametric Variation

This chapter addresses the question of the emergence and evolution of the definite article in French. The chapter is organized as follows. Section 7.2 examines the problem of bare NPs and bare ... More

This chapter addresses the question of the emergence and evolution of the definite article in French. The chapter is organized as follows. Section 7.2 examines the problem of bare NPs and bare (pronominal) determiners (BD) in Romance and Germanic and discusses the Restricted Quantification Condition, as well as the representation of morphological complexity developed in Kerstens (1993). Section 7.3 looks at data on NPs in Old French between the 9th and 14th centuries. Section 7.4 returns to the reanalysis of D-words in OF and to the problem of case projections in Romance and Germanic.Less

Articles and Pronouns

Ronald K. S. Macaulay

in Talk that Counts: Age, Gender, and Social Class Differences in Discourse

There are no social class differences in the use of the definite and indefinite articles, but they are used significantly more frequently by males. The articles are used much less frequently by the ... More

There are no social class differences in the use of the definite and indefinite articles, but they are used significantly more frequently by males. The articles are used much less frequently by the adolescents. The adolescents, however, use personal pronouns significantly more often than the adults. Females use pronouns much more frequently than males, particularly the pronoun she. The middle-class speakers use WH-relative pronouns much more frequently than the working-class speakers. Females also have a much higher frequency of reference to named persons, while males are more likely to name places.Less

Word order in the nominal phrase

Alexandru Nicolae

in Word Order and Parameter Change in Romanian: A Comparative Romance Perspective

This chapter examines the main changes in the syntax of Romanian nominal phrases as they are reflected in the ordering of DP-internal constituents. The first part of the chapter focuses on the ‘low ... More

This chapter examines the main changes in the syntax of Romanian nominal phrases as they are reflected in the ordering of DP-internal constituents. The first part of the chapter focuses on the ‘low definite article’, i.e. structures in which the noun bearing the definite article occupies a non-DP-initial position. The low definite article is relevant to the emergence of the Romanian article (its suffixal nature singles out Romanian in Romance) on the one hand and to the understanding of the freer DP-internal word order characteristic of old Romanian on the other hand. The changes in the position of adjectives relative to the head noun and in the linearization of adjectives with respect to one another are then addressed. Finally, residual head-final structures in the nominal and adjectival domain and discontinuous constituents are analysed.Less

On the Double Definiteness Marker, Aspect, and Word Order in Old and Modern Scandinavian

Werner Abraham

in Functional Heads: The Cartography of Syntactic Structures, Volume 7

This chapter deals with the diachronic development of the post-nominal definite article in Icelandic and relates the change inside the nominal structure to other changes in the information structure ... More

This chapter deals with the diachronic development of the post-nominal definite article in Icelandic and relates the change inside the nominal structure to other changes in the information structure of the clause. It therefore addresses two crucial aspects related to the nature of functional heads: how functional heads in the nominal expression are related to functional heads in the clause, and how grammaticalization in one domain can influence other domains.Less

Christ Phrases in Paul

Matthew V. Novenson

in Christ among the Messiahs: Christ Language in Paul and Messiah Language in Ancient Judaism

This chapter treats ten set phrases that have been taken as evidence that Paul either did or did not use “Christ” according to its conventional sense. These phrases are: the double forms “Jesus ... More

This chapter treats ten set phrases that have been taken as evidence that Paul either did or did not use “Christ” according to its conventional sense. These phrases are: the double forms “Jesus Christ” and “Christ Jesus,” use as an appellative, use as a predicate nominative, genitive modifiers, the presence or absence of the definite article, use as the subject of a sentence, use of “Jesus” or “Christ” or “Lord” in different contexts, and the phrases “in Christ,” “people of Christ,” and “faith of Christ” (pistis christou). The chapter concludes, contrary to much previous research, that none of these set phrases proves either that “Christ” in Paul means “messiah” or that it does not. That question cannot be settled at the level of formal grammar but only at the level of discourse.Less

Some Preliminary Comparative Remarks on French and Italian Definite Articles

Richard S. Kayne

in Foundational Issues in Linguistic Theory: Essays in Honor of Jean-Roger Vergnaud

This chapter examines parametric variation within the nominal domain and shows that crosslinguistic variation across a variety of nominal constructions can be linked to a single parameter: the ... More

This chapter examines parametric variation within the nominal domain and shows that crosslinguistic variation across a variety of nominal constructions can be linked to a single parameter: the presence versus absence of an overt determiner in French versus Italian. Drawing on the determiner phrase hypothesis and remnant movement, it compares three structures in French and Italian: superlatives, which-phrases with a silent noun, and mass nouns/partitives. It illustrates how Romance bare plurals arguably contain a definite article of the sort seen overtly in French partitives. It also discusses interrogatives and English possessors.Less

Determiners and the deictic system

Martin Maiden, Adina Dragomirescu, Gabriela Pană Dindelegan, Oana Uță Bărbulescu, and Rodica Zafiu

in The Oxford History of Romanian Morphology

How did the definite article evolve morphologically from Latin ILLE? What is the determiner al and how did it evolve? What is the history of the indefinite article? How does locative and adverbial ... More

How did the definite article evolve morphologically from Latin ILLE? What is the determiner al and how did it evolve? What is the history of the indefinite article? How does locative and adverbial deixis work? What is the function of the formatives -a, -le, and -și?Less

The article: Art

in Practical Manx

In Manx, the definite article has three forms yn, ny and nyn: yn is the normal singular form; ny is the plural and the form used for the feminine genitive singular (f gen sg); and nyn is an archaic ... More

In Manx, the definite article has three forms yn, ny and nyn: yn is the normal singular form; ny is the plural and the form used for the feminine genitive singular (f gen sg); and nyn is an archaic form sometimes found in place names. Manx has no indefinite article. This chapter discusses the singular definite article; feminine genitive singular ny; plural definite article ny; mutation after the article; uses of the definite article; the article expressing ‘of’ or possession; and the article with collective nouns.Less

Articles

Steve Hart

in English Exposed: Common Mistakes Made by Chinese Speakers

This chapter presents the different types of article occurring in English and introduces the concept of definiteness to understand which article should be used for which situation. The chapter ... More

This chapter presents the different types of article occurring in English and introduces the concept of definiteness to understand which article should be used for which situation. The chapter reveals the most common mistakes and how they can be rectified. It also explores the relationship between articles and generic reference and explains what fixed phrases are.Less

Reasons, Truth, and Relativism

Paul K. Moser

in Philosophy after Objectivity: Making Sense in Perspective

This chapter examines relativism about reasons and relativism about concepts of reasons and truth. Purposive normative reasons, according to this chapter, are noteworthy. It explains how purposive ... More

This chapter examines relativism about reasons and relativism about concepts of reasons and truth. Purposive normative reasons, according to this chapter, are noteworthy. It explains how purposive normative reasons can contribute to solving a problem of normative relevance, the problem that non-motivating, purpose-independent normative, “reasons” and “requirements” seem too easy to come by. Purpose-independent “reasons” and “requirements” evidently can be introduced ad arbitrium. This chapter also looks at the internalist–externalist debate with conceptual instrumentalism: the view that one's aims, or purposes, in adopting and using a notion of rationality, reasons, or obligations can cogently recommend, at least to oneself, an internalist or an externalist notion of rationality, reasons, or obligations. Conceptual instrumentalism is one straightforward way to answer questions about what notion of rationality, reasons, or obligations one should adopt and use.Less

Articles as Partitives *

Ignacio Bosque and M. Carme Picallo

in Functional Heads: The Cartography of Syntactic Structures, Volume 7

This chapter attempts to formally account for a peculiar partitive construction of Old Romance languages that has never been discussed in generative literature. It provides evidence that the definite ... More

This chapter attempts to formally account for a peculiar partitive construction of Old Romance languages that has never been discussed in generative literature. It provides evidence that the definite article that in this construction precedes the cardinal numeral should be interpreted and treated as a pronoun. Therefore, adopting a Big DP configuration for the article-pronoun and the DP complement of the partitive preposition, it suggests that the article-pronoun raises from the Spec of the Big DP to a higher position where its formal person and number (and perhaps case) features can be checked and valued, and finally morpho-phonologically incorporate to the above cardinal head.Less