Series | Studi e ricerche
Edited book | Studi di linguistica slava
Chapter | Lo status del numerale en in sloveno

Lo status del numerale en in sloveno

Abstract

This paper investigates the status of the numeral en ‘one’ in Colloquial Slovenian by applying diagnostic tests for the indefinite article. By probing into the distribution and scope properties of noun phrases headed by en, we claim that their interpretation as true indefinites is limited to intensional contexts, whereas in predicative and generic use they induce specific reading. Thus, we argue that Colloquial Slovenian has not fully developed an indefinite article. Nevertheless, significant variation is found among speakers of Slovenian, with those with the Litoral dialectal background exhibiting the highest degree of the grammaticalization of an indefinite article.


Open access | Peer reviewed

Submitted: April 16, 2019 | Accepted: June 17, 2019 | Published Dec. 18, 2019 | Language: it

Keywords Numeral oneGrammaticalizationIndefinite articleLitoral dialectVariationColloquial Slovenian


read this chapter