The status of determining elements in Australian languages

Australian languages generally lack a part of speech with typical determiner features such as obligatory use, competition for a specific position in the noun phrase, and specialization in this function. This study uses a sample of 100 languages to investigate whether Australian languages can be said to have any kind of determiner system, and if so, what it looks like in structural terms. I show that there is structural evidence for a determiner slot or zone in half of the languages. Parts of speech occurring in these slots/zones are often non-specific, also used in other functions in the NP. This offers an interesting window on the semantics of determiners, as it allows us to contrast determiner uses with non-determiner ones.peerreview_statement: The publishing and review policy for this title is described in its Aims & Scope. aims_and_scope_url: http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=cajl20status: publishe