Journal | Armeniaca
Journal issue | 1 | 2022
Research Article | Grammaticalization of the Definite Article in Armenian
Grammaticalization of the Definite Article in Armenian
Abstract
The Classical Armenian definite article system is unusual for Indo-European, but paralleled in prehistoric common Kartvelian. It may represent an intermediate stage in grammaticalization between demonstratives and definite articles. The Kartvelian articles progressed further down the path of grammaticalization, becoming markers of argument status, and eventually being incorporated into the case system. It has been suggested that the modern Armenian definite article has also progressed further than the stage of definiteness marking, becoming a marker of specificity, but in fact, its non-definite uses are better described as associated with nominalisation, and in particular with core argument status, than with specificity.
Submitted: Dec. 20, 2021 | Accepted: March 23, 2022 | Published Oct. 28, 2022 | Language: en
Keywords Grammaticalization • Definiteness • Specificity • Armenian • Kartvelian • Language contact • Indo-European • Definite article
Copyright © 2022 Katherine Hodgson. This is an open-access work distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction is permitted, provided that the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. The license allows for commercial use. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
Permalink http://doi.org/10.30687/arm/9372-8175/2022/01/008
