Abstract:
The expression of indefiniteness in Eastern Sicilian is investigated in this study. An online questionnaire
containing a battery of socio-demographic questions, a battery of items derived from the Bilingual
Language Profile scale, and a Forced-Choice task with acceptability ratings was used to conduct the
research. The stimuli were examined for the presence of event type, and base vs Clitic Left Dislocation with
accusative and quantitative clitics in the selection of indefinite determiners in object position. We show
that both the Sicilian variety of Italian and the Eastern Sicilian dialects are provided with two core
indefinites: the zero determiner (zero) and the definite article (art). We found that both in Italian and in the
dialects, the zero determiner is more commonly used in the BASE position in Left Dislocated position
resumed by quantitative NE. In the dialects we also find a use of zero in Left Dislocated positions resumed
by the accusative clitic. Both in the regional variety of Italian and in Eastern Sicilian the definite article is
most used in Left Dislocated positions resumed by accusative LI, but we find a significant occurrence in
BASE positions as well. It is never used in Left Dislocated positions resumed by NE.
