R.ALBU, Semantics, Pragmatics...

and Grammar
Natural/Logical/Semantic Categories vs. Grammatical Categories: (3) Determination

(3) Determination

The category of determination has to do with the multiple modes through which language achieves
symbolism. The category of determination comprises the two semantic aspects - reference and
quantification - of the part of speech known as the noun. The main discussions of determination go
round the opposition between definite and indefinite meanings.

Based on QUIRK ET AL 1972, Chapter 4:

DETERMINERS

PREDETERMINERS CENTRAL DETERMINERS POSTDETERMINERS

1. all, both, half 1. Articles: the, a(n), zero 1. Cardinal numerals: one, two,
2. double, twice etc. 2. Demonstratives: this, that, three etc.
3. one-third etc. these, those 2. Ordinal numerals:
4. what, such etc. 3.Possessives: my, your etc.) first, second, etc.
and genitives 3. General ordinals: next, last,
4. Quantifiers: some, any, no, other etc.
every, each, either, neither, 4. Quantifiers: many, few, little,
enough, much several, more, less etc.
5 Wh-determiners:
what(ever), which(ever),
who(ever), whose

(QUIRK'S) Classification of the central determiners into six classes (with respect to their co-occurrence
with the noun classes "singular count", "plural count" and " mass" (uncount):

COUNT MASS
singular pen
ink
plural pens

A the B zero article C. this D. these

possessive (my etc) some (unstressed) that those
no any (unstressed)
whose enough
which(ever)
what(ever)
some (stressed E. a(n) F. much
any (stressed) every
each
either
neither
Note:
Many of the determiners have alternative of-constructions:

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R.ALBU, Semantics, Pragmatics... and Grammar
Natural/Logical/Semantic Categories vs. Grammatical Categories: (3) Determination

Any of the books will do.

Each of you should complete this.

Using the criterion of the semantic mode of referring, linguists have tried to find a whole class of linguistic expressions that
could structurally occur in the same slot as the:
this
that
my, ...
a, any, some, every, no
(n)either
These items form a closed-class system. In terms of their distribution they occur in the same slot and they are in a choice
relation, i.e., a noun cannot take but one item at a time.

QUIRK 137: "The articles are central to the class of determiners in that they have no function independent of the noun they
precede. Other determiners are also independent pronouns:
I want the ink. Here is *the.
I want some ink. Here is some.”)
Any discussion of the category of determination in English (that is of the multiple modes through which language achieves
symbolism) should start with the analysis of the system of articles.

THE DEFINITE ARTICLE

1) Situational reference (the value of the definite article on a situational basis):

- deictic function (demonstrative, pointing)

2) Linguistic/Textual reference (the value of the definite article on the basis of the linguistic context):
- anaphoric value
(+ associative anaphora)
- cataphoric value
- generic statements

THE INDEFINITE ARTICLE

a(n) + N may refer to a
(a) [+Specific] member if the interpretation is a certain one
(b) [-Specific] member --> some one or another

Most cases of use are of the (a) type, i.e., a(n) + N = a particular, certain individual --> a(n) [+Specific]
[-Definite]

I met a friend in the street a few minutes ago.

I bought a new Ford.

A. This value of the article is known as epiphoric.

B. numeric value: I never said a word about it.

a foot high
Wait a minute
(There came a soldier marching along the road. - the epiphoric and numeric functions are combined)

C. marker of a syntactic relation - with nouns in predicate position:

I am a teacher. (distributionally similar to I am tall.)

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R.ALBU, Semantics, Pragmatics... and Grammar
Natural/Logical/Semantic Categories vs. Grammatical Categories: (3) Determination

D. generic use – in generic statements: A whale is a mammal.

THE ZERO ARTICLE

Zero determination represents the unmarked behaviour of

- proper nouns
- mass nouns

With mass nouns: - parti-generic value;

And he took bread and gave thanks and broke it.
- toto-generic value:
Necessity is the mother of invention.
Haste makes waste, waste makes want, and want makes strife between the
goodman and his wife.

With plural nouns: - generic value: Whales are mammals.

- general (rather than generic):
They sell pencils here.

With proper names: - unique reference

(Note on the use of the zero article with:
- father, mother, papa, sis(ter), cook, doctor;
- breakfast, lunch ...
- town, school, church, hospital, prison, home, bed.)

ELLIPSIS WITH THE ARTICLE

to be clearly distinguished from the zero article

It is a stylistically marked form used in:
- journalese
- stage directions
- quick, colloquial language

"THIS" AND "THAT" AS DETERMINERS

-distributionally identical to the.

This and that have three main uses:

1. deictic (on a situational basis) Put these flowers on that table.
2. anaphoric (linguistic/textual basis)
3. "emotional" This Fred Snooks turns out to have 24 cats.

To sum up:

THIS [+Proximity] THAT [-Proximity]

spatio-temporal use spatio-temporal use
discourse referring use: anaphoric discourse referring use: anaphoric only
cataphoric
emotional use emotional use

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R.ALBU, Semantics, Pragmatics... and Grammar
Natural/Logical/Semantic Categories vs. Grammatical Categories: (3) Determination

Both THIS and THAT have anaphoric use, that being more frequent. In this case the feature [Proximity] is suppressed.

BIRD'S EYE BOX: ARTICLES

THE DEFINITE ARTICLE
The girl who lives next door --> a specified object
The earth travels round the sun.-->a unique object
the universe, the Danube
The French, the rich, the sick--> an adjective used as a noun
The best book I've ever read --> superlatives

THE INDEFINITE ARTICLE

a man, an idea --> one unspecified thing/person
She's a social worker. --> job (also: religion/nationality)
twice a day --> expressions of frequency
$2 a metre --> measurements
What an awful book! --> exclamations

THE ZERO ARTICLE

Butter is cheap. --> concrete mass nouns in general
(cf. The butter is cheap.)
Women live longer than men. --> plural nouns in general
Tom, Sweden, Friday, Easter, --> names, countries, days,
summer festivals, seasons
Time passes quickly. --> abstract nouns

ELLIPSIS OF THE ARTICLE

Crisis of Eggs Expected --> in journalese (headlines)
George goes table left. --> stage directions
Coach is ready, sir. --> quick, colloquial language

BIRD'S EYE BOX: QUANTIFIERS

"LARGE" (MULTAL) QUANTIFIERS
How many people are coming? --> much/many
We haven't got much time.
He showed a great deal of --> a great deal of +[U]
interest.
I have plenty of time/ideas. --> plenty of +[U] or [C]
He's got a lot of/lots of --> a lot of/lots of +[U] or [C]
ideas/time.
There are a number of problems.-->a number of +[C]

"SMALL" (PAUCAL) QUANTIFIERS

She's made a little progress. --> a little +[U]
She had little success. --> little (< a little) +[U]

They had a few drinks. --> a few +[C]

Few people have heard of him. --> few (< a few) +[C]

They were fewer people than expected.

He had less money than he thought.

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R.ALBU, Semantics, Pragmatics... and Grammar
Natural/Logical/Semantic Categories vs. Grammatical Categories: (3) Determination

NEUTRAL QUANTIFIERS
I've got some time/toys. --> some/any +[U] or [C]
Have you got any wine/plans?
I haven't got any wine/plans.

Would you like some tea? --> some in questions (expressing

Can you lend me some money? an offer or a request)
He left several days later --> several/quite a few +[C]She received
quite a few offers.