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Grammaticalization of the Definite Article in Armenian

Katherine Hodgson    University of Cambridge, UK    

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abstract

The Classical Armenian definite article system is unusual for Indo-European, but paralleled in prehistoric common Kartvelian. It may represent an intermediate stage in grammaticalization between demonstratives and definite articles. The Kartvelian articles progressed further down the path of grammaticalization, becoming markers of argument status, and eventually being incorporated into the case system. It has been suggested that the modern Armenian definite article has also progressed further than the stage of definiteness marking, becoming a marker of specificity, but in fact, its non-definite uses are better described as associated with nominalisation, and in particular with core argument status, than with specificity.

Pubblicato
28 Ottobre 2022
Accettato
23 Marzo 2022
Presentato
20 Dicembre 2021
Lingua
EN

Keywords: GrammaticalizationKartvelianArmenianDefinite articleLanguage contactIndo-EuropeanDefinitenessSpecificity

Copyright: © 2022 Katherine Hodgson. This is an open-access work distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction is permitted, provided that the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. The license allows for commercial use. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.