No 'iota' type-shifter in Kazym Khanty

Abstract

In this paper, we present new challenging data from Kazym Khanty (a Uralic language spoken in Western Siberia, Russia): in this articleless language, bare singular and bare dual NPs in argument positions can receive indefinite readings on par with definite ones, contradicting the predictions of the classic neo-Carlsonian approach (Chierchia, 1998; Dayal, 2004). We argue that the presence of indefinite uses can be accounted for within the neo-Carlsonian approach if we assume that the inventory of type-shifters accessible in the grammar is subject to cross-linguistic variation, and Kazym Khanty differs from the “canonicial” articleless languages in that it lacks the “definite” type-shifter iota. In the absence of iota, bare singular and bare dual NPs are predicted to be interpreted via the “indefinite” type-shifter ex. We show that this prediction is borne out: not only do bare singulars and bare duals feature indefinite uses, but they even can take variable scope, as expected from the generalized existential quantifiers. We also argue that ex, despite being associated with indefinite readings, can cover definite uses when iota is absent.