Article-like constructions and the definite-indefinite continuum in Croatian

Abstract

The first goal of this paper is to give a description of the article-like uses of the Croatian numeral jedan ‘one’, the indefinite determiner neki ‘some’ and the demonstrative determiner taj ‘this’ within the theoretical framework of Cognitive Grammar. This description places these constructions along a cognitively grounded definiteness hierarchy spanning from the demonstrative determiner taj (definite) on one side to jedan (indefinite specific) and neki (indefinite non-specific) on the other side. The second goal of the paper is to give a description of the constructions combining the article-like demonstrative determiner taj with the article-like numeral jedan and the article-like indefinite determiner neki, i.e. taj jedan and taj neki, lit. ‘this some/this one’. The functions and usage profiles of these constructions are carefully differentiated and, in order to explain the data obtained, a richer articulation of the cognitively grounded definiteness hierarchy is put forth. A new position is proposed, existing between definiteness and specific indefiniteness, to account for entities that are contextually defined as indefinite by taj jedan and taj neki.