pluraldefinita

Pluraldefinita is a term used in linguistic typology to describe a hypothetical feature of noun phrases in which definiteness is expressed primarily through the plural form of the noun, or where definiteness is obligatorily marked on plural nouns. The central idea is that in such systems, the plural noun phrase carries the definite interpretation inherently, reducing or replacing the need for a separate definite determiner. The term is used in discussions of cross-linguistic variation in how languages mark definiteness and number.

Typological patterns include cases where the definite plural is expressed by a suffix on the noun, a plural determiner, or integration of the definiteness into the noun’s morphology. The concept contrasts with languages that require an additional article or demonstrative to present definiteness, especially in the plural. In some languages, number and definiteness fuse into a single morpheme on the noun, while others rely on clitics or postposed particles to mark definite plurals.

Examples and attestation: Romanian provides a real-world parallel: băieți versus băieții. The definite plural is formed by a suffix on the noun, illustrating how definiteness can be bundled with number. Other languages show similar patterns where plural nouns exhibit inherent definiteness in their morphology. In languages with a separate definite article for the plural (as in English, where the article is outside the noun), the plural remains less tightly integrated with definiteness.

Notes: The term pluraldefinita is primarily used in theoretical discussions and is not a universally standardized label. It helps linguists describe systems with strong interactions between plurality and definiteness, and is sometimes invoked in discussions of constructed languages and typology. See also: definite article, noun phrase, morphosyntax.