Re: Probability of Article Replacement?

On Tue, 25 Feb 2003 15:43:36 -0500
Aidan Grey <grey@...> wrote:

> John Cowan wrote:
> >Andreas Johansson scripsit:
> >
> > > How probable is it for a language that has a definite article to replace it
> > > with a form derived from a demonstrative? Are any such examples known from
> > > real-world languages?
> >
> >What little I know of the subject says that languages sometimes acquire
> >definite articles, but don't discard or replace them.
>
>    While this is true (with a standard demonstrative > article derivation)
> I can see the possibility of the reverse happening. In Welsh or Irish for
> example, where the article and the demonstrative both appear (Irish 'an
> peann seo' "that pen" for example). I can see the article (only realized as
> /@/) being lost and the demonstrative taking over. I don't think any langs
> have done so yet, but I could see it easily happening in the future.
>
>    Aidan
>
Hmm... this touches closely on my own "disappearing article" question, which
involves an initial mutation as the spoor of a vanished article.. But I'll
ask it separately in a few days, to avoid dislodging this thread, or having my own
question passed over :)

s.
----
Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils - Hector Berlioz
Stephen Mulraney ~ e::ataltane at ataltane.net ~ w::ataltane.net