Nouns and Noun Phrases - University of Macau Library

Determiners: articles and pronouns 717
in (104) will be as indicated in (105a). A potential problem for such an approach is,
however, that in the case of definite reference, the “elliptical” construction requires
the use of the non-neuter form of the definite article, whereas the overtly expressed
head may be either the non-neuter tekening ‘drawing’ or the neuter noun schilderij
‘painting’. The (a)-example and the two (b)-examples differ also in that the
preposition van is obligatory in the latter but impossible in the former.
(105) a. een/de [∅ [Van Gogh]]
b. een/de tekening van Van Gogh
a/the[-neuter] drawing of Van Gogh
b′. een/het schilderij van Van Gogh
a/the[+neuter] painting of Van Gogh
This suggests that the analysis in (105a) is not feasible, and that we have to assume
that the proper noun is directly construed with the determiner, that is, acts like a
regular common noun. This also accounts for the fact illustrated in (106) that these
proper nouns allow a plural form.
(106) Zij hadden daar minstens drie Van Goghs in de kelder staan.
they had there at.least three Van Goghs in the cellar stand
‘They had at least three Van Goghs standing in the cellar.’
Additional evidence for direct construal of the proper noun and the determiner can
be found in Flemish Dutch, which unlike Standard Dutch has different articles for
feminine and masculine nouns. The examples in (107) only accept the masculine
articles, regardless of the gender of both the “implicit” noun and the creator. In
(107a), the masculine articles den/nen (definite/indefinite) are used, despite the fact
that the allegedly “implicit” noun schilderye ‘painting’, is feminine. Example
(107b) illustrates even more clearly that the choice of the article is independent of
the gender of either the understood noun or the biological sex of the creator: the
Flemish word for sculpture, beeld, is neuter, while the creator in question is female:
the article, on the other hand, must be masculine (Liliane Haegeman p.c.).
(107) a. den/nen Matisse [a painting]
the/a Matisse
b. den/nen Dhaese [a sculpture]
the/a Dhaese
5.1.2.2. Vocatives
Certain nouns denoting a profession of social importance like dokter ‘doctor’ or
dominee ‘vicar’ can be used as vocatives, that is, in a function similar to that of the
proper noun in (108a). In this function, exemplified in (108b), the noun phrase is
determinerless.
(108) a. Jan, kan je even komen?
Jan can you a while come
‘Jan, could you come over for a minute?’
b. Dokter/Dominee, kunt u even komen?
doctor/vicar can you a while come
‘Doctor/Vicar, could you come over for a minute?’