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Feature type

Semantic criteria:

- Differences between the definite and indefinite article: Notwithstanding the definitions current, the definite article does not seem to designate a noun in a specific way and the indefinite one does not seem to designate a noun in a generic way. The difference rather seems to rely on the opposition between i) ``class vs. member" and ii) ``known vs. new" (Renzi, 1991):
i) - class: il leone e' il re degli animali
i) - member: ho visto un leone allo zoo

ii) - known: devo portare fuori il cane
ii) - new: voglio comprarmi un cane
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