The definiteness marking on proper names in Zauzou

Abstract Proper names (PNs) belong to the category of “absolutely unique definite”. Languages vary significantly in the distribution of definite articles with proper names. Sortal classifiers mark definiteness in many numeral classifier languages, while the ability of sortal classifier to mark definiteness on proper names is less-studied. This paper explores the possibility of definite-marking sortal classifiers co-occurring with personal and place names in Zauzou, a Tibeto-Burman language that employs numeral classifiers to express definiteness. Findings of the present study show that (1) personal names are the most prototypical proper names due to their prohibition from combining with a definite-marking sortal classifier; (2) place names are still in the process of developing from common nouns to proper names and display a varied picture. Monomorphemic settlement names, fossilized compound names, and river-type appellative names form a cline ranging from PNs to common nouns (CNs).