The importance of having a degree: On the semantics of attributive short and long form adjectives in BCMS

Abstract

This paper addresses attributive adjectives in Bosnian/Croatian/Montenegrin/Serbian (BCMS), which can appear in a short or a long form (SF vs. LF).We argue against previous accounts that correlate the SF-LF distinction with nominal definiteness or specificity, by pointing out a variety of empirical issues with such accounts. Instead, we propose that this distinction is best understood as a definiteness of degree phenomenon, as it is more equipped to capture the data. If correct, the analysis presents a case for a cross-linguistically rare morphological category of definiteness (definiteness of degrees), which sheds new light on both definiteness and degree in natural language.