The discourse-functional crystallization of DP from the original demonstrative

In Abraham (this volume), grammatical determiners of various sorts were discussed in regard of the extent to which such determiners co-define anaphors in contexts reaching beyond the single clause. Making use of its findings, the present discussion shows how the defi nite article emerged in the history of German from the determiner homonym and how various steps in their grammaticalization paths invite certain generalizations of diachronic change.