The fact that pronominal heads do not take the definite article is a very widespread and possibly universal phenomenon, explainable to an extent by frequently attested pronominal nature of the article itself.
Standardized
Noun phrases with personal pronouns as their heads tend not to take definite articles.
In Kana (=Khana) (Benue-Congo, Niger-Congo), the combination of specifier ‘lo’ and emphatic personal pronoun is used to denote ‘X-self’. The specifier ‘lo’ usually refers to a singular, presupposed and definite noun (Ikoro 1996).In Hova (Malagasy dialect) (Borneo, Western Malayo-Polynesian), the combination of an article and personal pronouns is used to form emphatic pronominal forms (Brandstetter 1913 (mentioned also in Moravcsik 1969: 76)). In Quiche (Mayan), for emphasis personal pronouns can occur with demonstratives and articles (Schultze 1933).In Bigis (=Buginese) (Sulawesi, Western Malayo-Polynesian) and Somali (Cushitic, Afro-Asiatic), full personal pronouns are formed by attachment of an article to an enclitic or “short” pronominal forms (Brandstetter 1913, mentioned also in Moravcsik 1969: 76, Reinisch 1903).In Tzutujil (Maya), the definite article is often used with non-third person pronouns when they are topics or subjects (Dayley 1985). (For details see Filimonova (forthcoming)).
Cf. #1743 which is more resolute, prohibiting combination of personal pronouns with determiners in general.Implicational version:If NPs have a personal pronoun as their head, then such NPs do not permit a definite article.
Cf. #1743 which is more resolute, prohibiting combination of personal pronouns with determiners in general.Implicational version:If NPs have a personal pronoun as their head, then such NPs do not permit a definite article.