The semantics of specificity-marked indefinites: Evidence from Algerian Arabic

Abstract

In this paper, I argue that specificity-marked indefinites function as referential expressions rather than existential quantifiers. Introducing a novel test, I demonstrate that they systematically lack all forms of existential readings—including narrow scope, wide scope, intermediate scope, and existential quantification over Skolem functions—while instead contributing reference to either individuals or Skolem functions. Based on these observations, I propose a semantics for specificity markers such as Algerian Arabic el (‘the’) and English certain, analyzing them as extreme domain restrictors. I then evaluate the implications of this analysis within both a classical existential generalized quantifier approach to indefinite determiners and a choice function approach.