… 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.
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].
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].