36.3717, Books: Semantically Vacuous Elements in German: Roehrs (2025)

[The LINGUIST List]

LINGUIST List: Vol-36-3717. Wed Dec 03 2025. ISSN: 1069 - 4875.

Subject: 36.3717, Books: Semantically Vacuous Elements in German: Roehrs (2025)

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Date: 02-Dec-2025
From: Sebastian Nordhoff [support at langsci-press.org]
Subject: Semantically Vacuous Elements in German: Roehrs (2025)


Title: Semantically Vacuous Elements in German
Subtitle: Adjectival Inflections and the Article ein
Series Title: Open Germanic Linguistics
Publication Year: 2025

Publisher: Language Science Press
           http://langsci-press.org
Book URL: https://langsci-press.org/catalog/book/532

Author(s): Dorian Roehrs

eBook

Abstract:

This book investigates adjectival inflections and the article ein in
many different contexts in German including in various non-canonical
contexts. It pursues two goals. On the one hand, it strives to provide
a more comprehensive description and account of adjectival inflections
and the article ein. This includes an examination of the interaction
of these two elements. On the other hand, it seeks to identify
similarities between these different types of elements to address
certain theoretical questions. It is argued that adjectival
inflections are not a reflex of (in-)definiteness,
(non-)restrictiveness of the interpretation of adjectives, or
referentiality; ein is argued not to be a reflex of indefiniteness,
emotiveness, or singular number/countability. Furthermore, it is
demonstrated that these two elements indicate abstract structural
differences: adjectival inflections in the higher portion of the noun
phrase, ein in the lower part of the noun phrase. In addition, both
types of elements make certain abstract elements visible: adjectival
inflections make features for case, number, and gender visible; ein
supports overt operators or flags the presence of covert ones.
Overall, it is concluded that these two types of elements have neither
semantics of their own nor do they make such features visible – they
are semantically vacuous.

Linguistic Field(s): Semantics
                     Syntax

Subject Language(s): German (deu)

Language Family(ies): German

Written In: English (eng)



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