Definiteness [Hardcover]

This 1999 book is an explanation of the grammatical concept of definiteness ('the', 'this', 'that') and how many languages express it.Definiteness is the concept expressed by definite articles such as 'the', and also by other expressions such as demonstratives ('this', that') and personal pronouns. This textbook surveys such expressions, many languages of the world, and also examines the theoretical literature on this aspect of grammar, to establish what definiteness is and how languages can express it.Definiteness is the concept expressed by definite articles such as 'the', and also by other expressions such as demonstratives ('this', that') and personal pronouns. This textbook surveys such expressions, many languages of the world, and also examines the theoretical literature on this aspect of grammar, to establish what definiteness is and how languages can express it.Definiteness is the concept expressed by definite articles such as the , and also by other expressions such as demonstratives ( this , that ) and personal pronouns. This textbook surveys such expressions in the many languages of the world, and also examines the theoretical literature on this aspect of grammar, to establish what definiteness is and how languages can express it.Preface; 1. Basic observations; 2. Simple definites and indefinites; 3. Complex definites and indefinites; 4. Some semantic and pragmatic distinctions; 5. Interaction with other grammatical phenomena; 6. Definiteness effects; 7. Defining definiteness; 8. Definiteness and noun phrase structure; 9. Diachronic aspects; References.