On the position and semantics of ein and bir in the nominal phrase: A comparative study

Abstract

In this paper, we have tried to compare the German word ein to the Turkish word bir. Positionally, the German word ein is placed before a noun (a dress) or a phrase (an old dress) and means a number or an indefiniteness depending on the situation. In contrast, the position of the Turkish word bir is not fixed but may vary in context. As a numerical adjective, the Turkish word bir stands at the beginning of the phrase and it usually means a number: bir eski elbise <one old dress>. As indefinite adjective, however, it is placed between the adjective and the noun, and it expresses an indefiniteness eski bir elbise <an old dress>.