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.
Keywords: Numeral one • Litoral dialect • Colloquial Slovenian • Variation • Grammaticalization • Indefinite article