News from the field
Specificity contrasts in Lalo Yi
Structure and interpretation
Lalo Yi (Tibeto-Burman; China) makes systematic distinctions in the encoding of specificity with
numerically-quantified nominals. Whereas specific indefinite NPs involve the presence of an article nikhe in an
NP-internal position [Noun nikhe Numeral Classifier], non-specific existentially-asserted indefinites require the
use of a syntactically discontinuous floating quantifier pattern [NP…Numeral-Classifier…]. A third, distinctive patterning is
found with weak, non-specific indefinites (indefinites that are not existentially asserted). This paper describes these previously
undocumented contrastive forms in Lalo Yi and how the language has developed a strikingly transparent linking between
morpho-syntax and semantics/pragmatics in the domain of nominal phrases.
Article outline
- 1.Introduction
- 2.Notions of specificity – a brief review
- 3.Lalo Yi and the representation of (non-)specificity
- 3.1Referential specificity
- 3.2Scopal specificity
- 3.3Epistemic specificity
- Context for (17/18)
- Context for (19/20)
- Context
- 4.(Non-)specificity marking in Lalo Yi: Distinctive properties and structures
- Acknowledgments
- Notes
- Abbreviations
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References