The distribution of indefinite determiners in the Venetan language

Abstract

This work aims to analyze the syntax and semantics of indefinite determiners in the dialects spoken in Veneto. The research originates from the observations about the extreme variability of indefiniteness both across languages and in varieties of the same language, notably Italian (Cardinaletti and Giusti 2016, 2018, 2020, Giusti, to appear). The analysis will be conducted through the submission of an online survey administered on Qualtrics. More specifically, the survey consists of a questionnaire composed of 18 multiple choice items where each participant is asked to choose on a scale from 1 to 5 the acceptability of each determiner given a specific context and different polarity, tense and aspect. The determiners taken into consideration are four, namely ZERO, ART, di+ART, bare DI. The questionnaire will be written in a particular type of Venetan dialect, specifically the one spoken by the author, who lives in the context of Mogliano Veneto (which is located between Venice and Treviso), even though the participants will be asked not to focus on the little semantic or phonetic differences, but only on determiners. During the process of the collection of data, the participants’ gender, age, educational attainment and use and attitude towards the dialect will be taken into account.