Amount definites

Abstract

Our project in the paper is twofold. First, we present an analysis of weak definites in general. Second, we present an analysis of the Semitic state inflection and its role in determining strong and weak definiteness, and introduce a novel type of weak definites which we call amount definites. Adopting the choice-function analysis of (in)definiteness, we analyse weak definiteness as the application of a type-shifted definite determiner to a relational noun. This application results in the reinterpretation of the relational noun as functional. When this function is in turn applied to the possessor, the definiteness of the result depends on the definiteness of the possessor. In Hebrew, weak definites often take the form of noun phrases headed by a noun marked with construct-state inflection; the paper discusses the interpretation of all construct-state nouns as relational. In colloquial Hebrew, the type-shifted definite determiner used in the formation of weak definites may take the form of a numeral (or other amount nouns) marked with emphatic-state inflection. We name weak definites headed by emphatic-state amount nouns amount definites, and compare the properties of amount definites to those of definite noun phrases where the amount noun is marked with construct-state inflection, which are strong definites.