rarissimum 135: a definite article only present in plural, but not in singular
- Where found
- Tok Pisin (English-based Pacific creole)
- Domain
- syntax
- Subdomain
- pronouns, articles
- Keywords
- definite article, number, singular, plural
- Type
- rarissimum
- Universals violated
- ?
- Source
- Pierre Abbat, p.c.
The plural definite article, and also 3rd person plural pronoun, is ol, deriving from the English universal quantifier all (‘all’ in Tok Pisin being olgeta, from altogether). The corresponding singular is em, from English him; but it is only used as a pronoun and not as a definite article.