Universal #965
Legacy number: 965
| Number | 961 |
| Original | ... definite articles are often synchronically identical with or clearly related to demonstratives which are also in the overwhelming majority of cases derived from demonstratives historically. |
| Standardized | Definite articles are often synchronically identical with or clearly related to demonstratives which are also in the overwhelming majority of cases derived from demonstratives historically. |
| Keywords | article, demonstrative, definite |
| Domain | lexicon |
| Type | target < source |
| Status | diachronic |
| Quality | statistical |
| Basis | languages surveyed in Greenberg 1985, Moravcsik 1969 |
| Source | Greenberg 1985: 271, Moravcsik 1969: 76 |
Discussion
Counterexamples
Maltese (Semitic, Afro-Asiatic)
Notes
Dryer’s results 1989: 86 are different: out of 52 languages, he found 20 with definite articles whose form was quite distinct from demonstratives.The question is what is being claimed:(i) Definite articles typically come about through the reanalysis of demonstrative pronouns [whatever else demonstratives can be reanalysed as].(ii) Apart from staying what they are, demonstrative pronouns are typically reanalysed as definite articles [regardless of possible other sources of definite articles].
Comment
Dryer's results (Dryer 1989: 86) are different: out of 52 languages, he found 20 with definite articles whose form was quite distinct from demonstratives.
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(i) Definite articles typically come about through the reanalysis of demonstrative pronouns [whatever else demonstratives can be reanalysed as].
(ii) Apart from staying what they are, demonstrative pronouns are typically reanalysed as definite articles [regardless of possible other sources of definite articles].