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Article published In: Proper Names:
Edited by Chia-Jung Pan and Yang Huang
[Asian Languages and Linguistics 6:1] 2025
► pp. 98–139

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The definiteness marking on proper names in Zauzou

ORCiD logo with link | Wuhan University
Published online: 19 August 2025
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/alal.25006.li
Abstract
Proper names (PNs) belong to the category of “absolutely unique definite”. Languages vary significantly in the distribution of definite articles with proper names. Sortal classifiers mark definiteness in many numeral classifier languages, while the ability of sortal classifier to mark definiteness on proper names is less-studied. This paper explores the possibility of definite-marking sortal classifiers co-occurring with personal and place names in Zauzou, a Tibeto-Burman language that employs numeral classifiers to express definiteness. Findings of the present study show that (1) personal names are the most prototypical proper names due to their prohibition from combining with a definite-marking sortal classifier; (2) place names are still in the process of developing from common nouns to proper names and display a varied picture. Monomorphemic settlement names, fossilized compound names, and river-type appellative names form a cline ranging from PNs to common nouns (CNs).
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Numeral classifiers marking definiteness and split definiteness
  • 3.Bare classifier phrases and definiteness marking in Zauzou
  • 4.Personal names
    • 4.1Bare personal names
    • 4.2Modified noun phrases
    • 4.3Topicality
  • 5.Place names
    • 5.1A typological overview
    • 5.2D-marking on Zauzou place common nouns
      • 5.2.1General toponymic classifiers with place common nouns
      • 5.2.2Specific toponymic classifiers with place common nouns
    • 5.3D-marking on Zauzou place proper names
      • 5.3.1Subclasses of Zauzou place proper names
      • 5.3.2D-marking with settlement names
      • 5.3.3D-marking with the river-type toponyms
      • 5.3.4D-marking with fossilized compound place proper names
  • 6.Discussion
    • 6.1The definiteness marking (D-marking) on proper names in Zauzou
    • 6.2The “scale of uniqueness” revisited
  • 7.Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • Abbreviations
  • References
References (56)
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