Abstract
<p>Definite descriptions in Bangla are expressed via two morpho-syntactic patterns, namely the bare classifier and the bare noun, discussed in detail in Simpson et al. 2011. The bare classifier form consists of a noun phrase and a classifier without a numeral, syntactically derived by NP-movement across the classifier (“NP-raising”). In the bare noun form, there is no classifier or a numeral accompanying the NP. In this paper, I argue that two factors, “anaphoricity” and “uniqueness”, play important roles in the selection of the pattern of the definite expression in Bangla. The NP-raising structure is used exclusively in anaphoric contexts, and shows similar properties to “strong article” definites cross-linguistically (cf. Schwarz 2009). Uniqueness-based definites are expressed by bare nouns, which are otherwise similar in distribution to the “weak article” definites (Schwarz 2009). This paper contributes to our overall understanding of definiteness in Bangla, and of the cross-linguistic expression of anaphoricity and uniqueness aspects of definiteness.</p>
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