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What is the order of the adnominal collective universal quantifier (‘all’) and the noun?

Summary

GB203 is concerned with the ordering of a universal quantifier (‘all’) and the noun. This feature has also been split into two binary features, "GB203a Is the order of the adnominal collective universal quantifier (UQ) and noun UQ-N?" and "GB203b Is the order of the adnominal collective universal quantifier (UQ) and noun N-QU?". It is possible to answer 1 or 0 for one of the binarised features, and "?" for the other. It is possible that there is no adnominal collective universal quantifier, in which case GB203, GB203a and GB203b are all 0 (see procedure).

As with other word order features in this database, this is focused specifically on adnominal quantification in pragmatically unmarked contexts. In languages that do not have a distinction between collective and distributive universal quantifiers (‘all’ vs. ‘every’), a quantifier that could be translated as ‘all’ and has a primarily plural use will be a sufficient target for this feature.

There are four possible codes for this feature, reflecting the fact that the collective universal quantifier might occur strictly before or strictly after the noun, may be allowed in both of these relative positions, or may not be present in a language. A 0 code is also applicable when the language does not allow a basic construction with an adnominal collective universal quantifier and a noun (e.g. if only a floating construction is used).

Orders that result from constructions like quantifier float (e.g. English The children have all come.) should be disregarded for the purposes of coding this feature.

Procedure

  1. If there is a collective universal quantifier, or a general universal quantifier that can be translated as ‘all’, and that quantifier occurs only before the noun (UQ-N), code 1 for GB203 or 1 for GB203a.
  2. If there is a collective universal quantifier, or a general universal quantifier that can be translated as ‘all’, and that quantifier occurs only after the noun (N-UQ), code 2for GB203 or 1 for GB203b.
  3. If the collective universal quantifier or equivalent can occur either before or after the noun (UQ-N or N-UQ) in non-quantifier float constructions, code 3 for GB203 or 1 for GB203a and GB203b.
  4. If there is no collective universal quantifier or other universal quantifier that can be translated as ‘all’ and be used in an adnominal construction, code 0 for GB203 or GB203a and GB203b.
  5. If there is no mention of universal quantifiers at all, code ? and note that there is insufficient information to make a determination.

Examples

Kwara'ae (ISO 639-3: kwf, Glottolog: kwar1239)

Quantifiers in Kwara'ae, including the universal quantifier (teqhou ‘all’), generally precede the noun they modify. The quantifier teqhou in particular can be used in a quantifier float construction where it is non-contiguous with the nominal it is modifying and may follow the noun in these constructions, as below.

keik          leak teqhou naq   an sa  tol  
IMP.1PL.EXCL  go   all    COMPL to LOC inland  
‘We all went inland.’ (Macdonald 2010: 164)

Quantifier float constructions are disregarded for coding, so Kwara'ae is coded 1.

Ura (ISO 639-3: uur, Glottolog: urav1235)

Very few modifiers can precede the head noun in Ura, one of which is the universal quantifier alauriyekye ‘all’. This form can also occur in a postnominal position in Ura with no change in meaning (Crowley 1999: 187-188). Because both orders are possible and neither involves a quantifier float construction or a pragmatically marked context, Ura is coded 3.

Central Nicobarese (ISO 639-3: ncb, Glottolog: cent1990)

In Central Nicobarese, there is no universal quantifier that can be used adnominally; this function is expressed by a predicate (Rajasingh 2016: 36–37). Central Nicobarese is coded 0 due to the lack of an adnominal universal quantifier.

Further reading

Bach, Elke, Eloise Jelinek, Angelika Kratzer & Barbara H. Partee (eds). 1995. Quantification in natural languages. (Studies in Linguistics and Philosophy 54). Dordrecht: Springer.

References

Crowley, Terry. 1999. Ura: A disappearing language of Southern Vanuatu. (Pacific Linguistics: Series C, 156.) Canberra: Research School of Pacific and Asian Studies, Australian National University.

Macdonald, Daryl Eveline. 2010. A grammar sketch of Kwaraqae. Hamilton: University of Waikato. (MA thesis.)

Rajasingh, V. R. 2016. Mūöt (Nicobarese). Mon-Khmer Studies 45. 14–52.

Related Features

Patron

Hannah J. Haynie