Home Linguistics & Semiotics Chapter 12. Dependent numerals and dependent existentials in Romanian
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Chapter 12. Dependent numerals and dependent existentials in Romanian

  • Mara Panaitescu
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Abstract

The paper discusses Romanian dependent indefinites (DepIndef’s) introduced by the distributive marker câte (/‘kɨ.te/). They come in two guises, referred to as dependent numerals (DepNum’s) in the configuration [câte num np], and dependent existentials (DepExist’s), in the configuration [câte sg-indef np]. The two marked indefinites are identical to their unmarked counterparts at the level of assertion. The narrower distribution of DepNum’s is an effect of the interaction between the numeral and certain Partition operators which license câte. The licensing condition of câte DPs in both guises states that these DPs must be under the scope of a D/Part operator in the terminology of Champollion (2016a,b). DepNum’s are associated with an event-dependent measure of cardinality.

Abstract

The paper discusses Romanian dependent indefinites (DepIndef’s) introduced by the distributive marker câte (/‘kɨ.te/). They come in two guises, referred to as dependent numerals (DepNum’s) in the configuration [câte num np], and dependent existentials (DepExist’s), in the configuration [câte sg-indef np]. The two marked indefinites are identical to their unmarked counterparts at the level of assertion. The narrower distribution of DepNum’s is an effect of the interaction between the numeral and certain Partition operators which license câte. The licensing condition of câte DPs in both guises states that these DPs must be under the scope of a D/Part operator in the terminology of Champollion (2016a,b). DepNum’s are associated with an event-dependent measure of cardinality.

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