What is indefiniteness?

Definition
	Indefiniteness is a kind of definiteness indicating that the referent(s) of an expression are not presumed to be identifiable.
	The referent is not identifiable because of a lack of shared knowledge or situation, including no previous mention of the referent.

Discussion
	Certain demonstratives and pronouns often are used to indicate indefiniteness.

Examples (English)
	Here are some examples of words that indicate indefiniteness:
	a some somebody

Generic
	Indefinite is a kind of
	What is definiteness?

Sources
	Pei and Gaynor 1954 98
	Crystal 1980 263
	Lyons 1968 276
	Mish 1991 612
	Hawkins, J. 1978 202

Context for this page:

Concept module: indefiniteness
In overview module: Glossary (Linguistics): I
In modular book: Glossary of linguistic terms, by Eugene E. Loos (general editor), Susan Anderson (editor), Dwight H., Day, Jr. (editor), Paul C. Jordan (editor), and J. Douglas Wingate (editor)
In bookshelf: Linguistics

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 5.0 published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 2003. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 5 January 2004

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