Definite type and indefinite token: the article son in colloquial german

Abstract

In the present paper, we argue that colloquial German has a fully grammaticalized article which simultaneously expresses definite type reference and indefinite token reference. Apart from semantically justifying the article son as appropriate in clearly delineated contexts, we also provide evidence for its entirely regular status based on facts of cross-paradigmatic coherence, information structural effects, and co-occurence restrictions with other articles. A survey of translational equivalents in other languages uncovers similar phenomena and supports the general claim