Bare, generic, mass, and referential Arabic DPs
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Abdelkader Fassi Fehri
Abstract
This paper investigates the properties of generic, mass, quantificational, and definite reference, in relation to the overt/covert expression of determiners, and shows that Arabic bare nouns are typically indefinite, while generic and mass interpretations require the overt expression of articles. I further examine varieties of bareness, and provide motivation for a computational process of N-to-Gen movement, an Indefinite Gen Parameter, and a Bare Numeral Parameter. Finally I explore the variation in common noun derivations for proper names, and show that Arabic patterns more like Romance than Germanic in motivating N-to-D movement in proper name derivations.
Abstract
This paper investigates the properties of generic, mass, quantificational, and definite reference, in relation to the overt/covert expression of determiners, and shows that Arabic bare nouns are typically indefinite, while generic and mass interpretations require the overt expression of articles. I further examine varieties of bareness, and provide motivation for a computational process of N-to-Gen movement, an Indefinite Gen Parameter, and a Bare Numeral Parameter. Finally I explore the variation in common noun derivations for proper names, and show that Arabic patterns more like Romance than Germanic in motivating N-to-D movement in proper name derivations.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Phrasal and clausal architecture 1
- Restructuring and clausal architecture in Kannada 8
- The position of adverbials 25
- Bare, generic, mass, and referential Arabic DPs 40
- The possessor raising construction and the interpretation of subject 66
- Syntactic labels and their derivations 93
- Separating “Focus Movement” from Focus 108
- In search for Phases 146
- Wh-movement, interpretation, and optionality in Persian 167
- Structure preservingness, internal Merge, and the strict locality of triads 188
- Using description to teach (about) prescription 206
- ‘More complicated and hence, rarer’ 221
- Prescriptive grammar 243
- The syntax of valuation and the interpretability of features 262
- Linear sequencing strategies or UG-defined hierarchical structures in L2 acquisition? 295
- Minimalism vs. organic syntax 319
- Location and locality 339
- Conceptual space 365
- ‘Adjunct theta-roles’ and the configurational determination of roles 396
- Author index 412
- Subject index 417
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Phrasal and clausal architecture 1
- Restructuring and clausal architecture in Kannada 8
- The position of adverbials 25
- Bare, generic, mass, and referential Arabic DPs 40
- The possessor raising construction and the interpretation of subject 66
- Syntactic labels and their derivations 93
- Separating “Focus Movement” from Focus 108
- In search for Phases 146
- Wh-movement, interpretation, and optionality in Persian 167
- Structure preservingness, internal Merge, and the strict locality of triads 188
- Using description to teach (about) prescription 206
- ‘More complicated and hence, rarer’ 221
- Prescriptive grammar 243
- The syntax of valuation and the interpretability of features 262
- Linear sequencing strategies or UG-defined hierarchical structures in L2 acquisition? 295
- Minimalism vs. organic syntax 319
- Location and locality 339
- Conceptual space 365
- ‘Adjunct theta-roles’ and the configurational determination of roles 396
- Author index 412
- Subject index 417
