Definiteness, Information Structure, and Indirect Modification in the Kunbarlang Noun Phrase

Bibliographic Data

ID5900147
AuthorsIvan Kapitonov (0000-0002-1603-6265, University of Cologne, corresponding author)
Year2021
Volume6
Issue3
Pages111
Publication date2021-06-22
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueLanguages (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2226-471X • E-ISSN: 2226-471X
PublisherMDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT)
DOI10.3390/languages6030111
OpenAlexW3173816973
LanguageEN
References cited31

Kunbarlang shows considerable variation in the word order patterns of nominal expressions. This paper investigates these patterns, concentrating on the distribution of noun markers (articles) and on attributive modification. Based on examination of spontaneous discourse and elicitation, I identify two main contributions of the noun marker: definiteness and predicative reading of modifiers. Furthermore, the order of adjectives with respect to the head noun is shown to correlate with information-structural effects. Taken together, these facts strongly support a hierarchical structure analysis of the NP in Kunbarlang. In the second part of the paper, Kunbarlang data are compared to the typology of determiner spreading phenomena. Finally, I entertain the prospects of a more formal analysis of the data presented and indicate their theoretical and typological relevance, including expression of information structure below the clausal level, typology of adnominal elements, and architecture of attributive modification

Attributive · Definiteness · Determiner · Determiner phrase · Information Structure · Linguistics · Natural language processing · Nominalization · Noun · Noun phrase · Predicative expression · Presupposition · Typology · Word order · Computer Science · History · Linguistic Variation and Morphology · Multilingual Education and Policy · Philosophy · Syntax, Semantics, Linguistic Variation · Artificial Intelligence

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