The proper D connection

We examine the concepts “proper” and “common” to determine how they are encoded in noun phrases. We address the issue of the noun-determiner relation in fixing the value of a noun phrase, arguing that both noun class and determiner features are involved. We suggest that in both definite common and proper noun phrases, NP is topped with a DP. In the former case, the DP contains the overt definite determiner the (in English), which is unmarked for any proper value as well as for number. In the latter, the DP also contains a definite determiner, which is null in English but not in all languages. This determiner has the features [proper] and [singular], which restrict it to appearing with singular NPs with a [name] feature.