The Definite Article in Bulgarian and Macedonian

Abstract

The post-positive definite article is traditionally considered to be one of the most characteristic features of Bulgarian and Macedonian.' It is especially noteworthy for its mixture of suffixal and nonsuffixal qualities. Like a suffix, it serves a grammatical function: to mark the category of definiteness. Unlike a suffix, it is an inflected form which constitutes a single accentual unit with an already existing word. This unique combination of traits is undoubtedly responsible for the disagreement among scholars with respect to its morphological status. An examination of existing literature shows that it has been called a suffix, a particle, and an ending.2 There is disagreement concerning its accentual status as well. In this area, however, we note a rather interesting pattern. Non-native scholars typically classify the article as an enclitic. Native scholars do not, as is evidenced not only by their consistent failure to use this term in discussing it, but also to include it in the lists of enclitics which appear in sections on stress. The purpose of this paper is to check the enclitic status of the article in Contemporary Standard Bulgarian (CSB) and Contemporary Standard Macedonian (CSM). This will be done by comparing its junctural and accentual properties with those of the undisputed enclitics in each language.3 Junctural Properties. We are accustomed to thinking of enclitics as morphemes defined exclusively in terms of certain accentual properties. However, junctural properties are also relevant. It is no accident in this regard that enclitics are normally referred to as stressless words, not suffixes. The reason is that the boundary formed by an accented word and an enclitic is characterized by the same phenomena with respect to the neutralization of the voiced/voiceless opposition as that formed by two accented words. In particular:4