Generic Noun Phrases in Subject Function (Feature 30)

From Apics

Feature Annotation

Here we ask how generic noun phrases in subject function are expressed. In many creole languages, noun phrases in generic sentences occur in the singular without any article (“Lion hunt gazelle“). Note that here we consider only sentences where both the subject and the situation to which the verb refers are generic; we disregard sentences where only the subject is generic, as in German Die Briefmarke wurde im 19. Jahrhundert erfunden (‘The stamp was invented in the 19th century.’)
Note that for the purposes of APiCS, a form is considered a definite article only if it also has the associative function (see Feature 28 on definite articles).
Furthermore, singular means that there is no overt plural marking of the noun, and bare means that there is no article in the noun phrase.

Additional remarks

Note that the Papia Kristang example in the annotation for value 2 was erroneously linked to value 3 in the March 2008 version.

Values

Value		Value Annotation
1	The language has neither a definite nor an indefinite article	e.g. Tok Pisin
2	Bare singular noun phrase (in a language with definite articles)	Papia Kristang Kóbra pesónya. [snake poisonous] ‘Snakes are poisonous’.
3	Bare singular noun phrase (in a language lacking definite articles)
4	Singular noun phrase with definite article	Ternateño Tiene cuatro alas el baraha. [have four ace def.art card] ‘Decks of cards have four aces.’
5	Bare plural noun phrase (in a language with definite articles)
6	Bare plural noun phrase (in a language lacking definite articles)
7	Plural noun phrase with definite article	San Andrés Creole Di dag dem de baak. [def.art dog pl prog bark] ‘Dogs bark.’
8	Singular noun phrase with indefinite article
9	Other	(Please give details in the “General comments” field.)

WALS No.

(None)