Individuation and definiteness in Santiago del Estero Quichua: implications for the structure of the nominal phrase

Abstract

Referential expressions in a language may vary depending on the degree of individuation assigned to each referent mention by the speaker and/or the assumed identifiability of the referent in discourse – that is, definiteness. This study examines how individuation and definiteness are expressed in Santiago del Estero Quichua (Quechua, Argentina) and their impact on noun phrase structure. Through empirical analysis using a text corpus, it was found that the morphology of the noun phrase, including determiners, quantifiers, adjectives, possessive suffixes, and case marking interact to signal different degrees of individuation and definiteness. In this language, the outermost positions (initial and final) of the noun phrase are typically reserved for discourse-referential modifiers, which play a key role in specifying and grounding referents. This conforms to the typological expectation that discourse-referential modifiers are semantically located in the outer layer of the noun phrase – an organization reflected iconically in the syntax. The study offers new insights into the noun phrase structure of Santiago del Estero Quichua, highlighting features such as differential object marking and flexible noun–adjective word order, which remain understudied. Moreover, they contribute to the understanding of how individuation and definiteness are expressed across world languages and the typology of noun phrase structures.