02. Make definition of Living by categorizing the definite & indefinite characters.
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Answer:
Abstract
Noun phrases (NPs) beginning with the or a/an are prototypical definite and indefinite NPs in
English. The two main theories about the meaning of definiteness are uniqueness and
familiarity. Both properties characterize most occurrences of definite descriptions although there
are examples which defy one or the other or both theories. Existential sentences have become
criterial for distinguishing indefinites from definites, and have led to broadening of both
categories to include a variety of other NP forms. Information status approaches propose a
hierarchy of NP types, rather than a simple binary distinction. The expression of definiteness
varies from language to language.
1. What does “definite” mean?
“Definite” and “indefinite” are terms which are usually applied to noun phrases (NPs). In
English, the is referred to as “the definite article”, and a/an as “the indefinite article”. Noun
phrases (NPs) which begin with the (e.g. the Queen of England, the book), which are also called
(especially in the philosophical literature) “definite descriptions”, are generally taken to be
prototypical examples of definite NPs in English. However it should be noted that not all of
them show the same pieces of behavior that have come to be taken as criterial for definiteness.
(See below, sections 2 and 3.) Similarly NPs which begin with a/an (an elephant, a big lie),
“indefinite descriptions”, are prototypical examples of indefinite NPs. (Plural indefinite
descriptions use the determiner some.)
1.1 Uniqueness?
Exactly what differentiates definite from indefinite NPs has been a matter of some dispute. One
tradition comes from the philosophical literature, more specifically Bertrand Russell’s classic
work on denoting phrases (Russell 1905). On this tradition what distinguishes the from a/an is
uniqueness – more specifically the existence of one and only one entity meeting the descriptive
content of the NP. So while use of an indefinite description in a simple, positive sentence merely
asserts existence of an entity meeting the description, use of a definite description asserts in
addition its uniqueness in that regard. While (1a), on this view, is paraphrasable as (1b), (2a) is
equivalent to (2b).
(1) a. I met an owner of El Azteco.
b. There is at least one owner of El Azteco whom I met.
(2) a. I met the owner of El Azteco.
b. There is one and only one owner of El Azteco, and I met that individual.
It should be noted that Russell was concerned to capture the meaning of definite descriptions in a
formal language of logic. Also, on his analysis both definite and indefinite descriptions are
quantificational expressions (like explicitly quantified NPs such as every apple, no unwanted
Answer:
Get definitions of definite and indefinite articles. ... Additionally, English has just one definite article, which helps to make up for the fact ... In addition to using all the letters of the alphabet, this sentence has two noun phrases: ... whether to use a definite or indefinite article, but they all fall into one of the categories mentioned.
Explanation: