Semantically vacuous elements in German

This book investigates adjectival inflections and the article ein in many different contexts in German including in various non-canonical contexts. It pursues two goals. On the one hand it strives to provide a more comprehensive description and account of adjectival inflections and the article ein. This includes an examination of the interaction of these two elements. On the other hand it seeks to identify similarities between these different types of elements to address certain theoretical questions. It is argued that adjectival inflections are not a reflex of (in-)definiteness (non-)restrictiveness of the interpretation of adjectives or referentiality; ein is argued not to be a reflex of indefiniteness emotiveness or singular number/countability. Furthermore it is demonstrated that these two elements indicate abstract structural differences: adjectival inflections in the higher portion of the noun phrase ein in the lower part of the noun phrase. In addition both types of elements make certain abstract elements visible: adjectival inflections make features for case number and gender visible; ein supports overt operators or flags the presence of covert ones. Overall it is concluded that these two types of elements have neither semantics of their own nor do they make such features visible - they are semantically vacuous.