A Typological Perspective on Indefinite Pronouns

Abstract This chapter examines the goals and methods of a typological perspective on indefinite pronouns. It begins with an overview of language typology and the reasons why typological research is very important to our understanding of human language. It then considers the four steps involved in a typological study. First, the domain of phenomena to be compared across languages is delimited by formulating a definition that is cross-linguistically applicable. Second, the space of typological variation is mapped out by providing a complete taxonomy of the various means by which the phenomenon under discussion is expressed in different languages. Third, correlations between individual structural options and other parts of the grammar are identified and formulated as implicational universals. Fourth, explanations for these universals are sought. General problems of typological sampling are highlighted and the two samples used in the typological study are described: the 40-language sample and the 100-language sample.