Title: The Open Handbook of (In)definiteness: A Hitchhiker?s Guide to Interpreting Bare Arguments (Open Handbooks in Linguistics)
Publisher: MIT Press
Publication Date: 2026
Language: English
ISBN 10: 0262052792
ISBN 13: 9780262052795
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

A hands-on, accessible guide for investigating the meaning of noun phrases.

Why do many languages have definite and indefinite articles, while many others do not? What principles govern the use of articles? Do these principles apply to article-less languages? These are some of the questions that confront anyone who engages seriously with language, from theoretical linguists and cognitive scientists to language learners and language teachers. In The Open Handbook of (In)definiteness, Veneeta Dayal clarifies how morpho-syntactic signals related to (in)definiteness can be distinguished from interpretation.

Dayal provides a path for scholars to describe how (in)definiteness plays out in any language by identifying different aspects of definiteness and indefiniteness, providing short introductions to relevant concepts in formal semantics. Explicit diagnostics are collated in the form of a questionnaire. The volume includes case studies that work in tandem with the questionnaire to probe the interpretive profile of seven typologically unrelated languages, revealing new facets of their grammar. The result is both empirically rich and theoretically intriguing, as Dayal elaborates in her discussion of cross-linguistic variation in the domain of nominal semantics. . Contributions by experts of the seven languages investigated showcase some of the avenues that the volume opens for future explorations.

About the Author

Veneeta Dayal is Dorothy R. Diebold Professor & Chair of Linguistics at Yale University. In addition to articles on a wide range of topics in semantics and its interfaces with pragmatics and syntax, she is the author of Locality in Wh Quantification and Questions and coeditor of Clause Structure in South Asian Languages.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Store Description

We carry a comprehensive range of out of print and rare books.

Visit Seller's Storefront

Seller's business information

Kennys Bookshop and Art Galleries (Holdings) Limited
Liosb�n Retail Park, Tuam Road, Galway, H91 N5P8, Ireland

Sale & Shipping Terms

Terms of Sale

We guarantee the condition of every book as it's described on the Abebooks websites.

If you're dissatisfied with your purchase (Incorrect Book/Not as Described/Damaged) or if the order hasn't arrived, you're eligible for a refund within 30 days of the estimated delivery date.

For any queries please use the contact seller link or send an email to books@kennys.ie

Conor Kenny

Shipping Terms

All books securely packaged. Some books ship from Ireland.

Shipping rates within U.S.A.

Shipping rates within U.S.A.
Order quantity	14 to 20 business days	13 to 14 business days
First item	US$ 10.50	US$ 21.00

Delivery times are set by sellers and vary by carrier and location. Orders passing through Customs may face delays and buyers are responsible for any associated duties or fees. Sellers may contact you regarding additional charges to cover any increased costs to ship your items.