The Semantics of Determiners: Domain Restriction in Sḵwx̱wú7mesh
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| Title: | The Semantics of Determiners: Domain Restriction in Sḵwx̱wú7mesh |
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| Description: | This book investigates the properties of determiners in Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) Salish.Determiners in Skwxwú7mesh are shown to behave significantly differently from the definite determiner the in English, as Skwxwú7mesh lacks a definite/indefiniteness distinction. All Skwxwú7mesh DPs can be used in both familiar and novel contexts, and are not required to refer to a unique entity. Instead, Skwxwú7mesh determiners are split along deictic/non-deicticlines.Determiners can therefore vary in terms of their semantics. However, determiners are argued to universally encode contextual sensitivity (domain restriction). A strict correlation between the syntax and semantics of determiners is proposed: if an article occupies D, it is context sensitive. Conversely, articles that do not occupy D are not context sensitive.This book also explores determiner systems in other Salish languages. Deixis is a part of most of the Salish determiner systems, but the systems vary quite a bit from one another. Other languages discussed include Inuttut (Labrador Inuktitut), Lithuanian and Maori. |
| Authors: | Carrie Gillon, Author |
| Resource Type: | eBook. |
| Subjects: | Squamish language (B.C.)--Determiners |
| Categories: | LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES / Linguistics / Syntax, LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES / Grammar & Punctuation |
| Database: | eBook Collection (EBSCOhost) |
| Abstract: | This book investigates the properties of determiners in Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) Salish.Determiners in Skwxwú7mesh are shown to behave significantly differently from the definite determiner the in English, as Skwxwú7mesh lacks a definite/indefiniteness distinction. All Skwxwú7mesh DPs can be used in both familiar and novel contexts, and are not required to refer to a unique entity. Instead, Skwxwú7mesh determiners are split along deictic/non-deicticlines.Determiners can therefore vary in terms of their semantics. However, determiners are argued to universally encode contextual sensitivity (domain restriction). A strict correlation between the syntax and semantics of determiners is proposed: if an article occupies D, it is context sensitive. Conversely, articles that do not occupy D are not context sensitive.This book also explores determiner systems in other Salish languages. Deixis is a part of most of the Salish determiner systems, but the systems vary quite a bit from one another. Other languages discussed include Inuttut (Labrador Inuktitut), Lithuanian and Maori. |
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| ISBN: | 9781443853118 9781443863483 |
