Datapoint Papiamentu/Occurrence of nominal plural markers

Plural marking is usually contingent on definiteness (marked either by a definite article, or by a possessive pronoun). However, the discussions in Dijkhoff (1983), Vos-de Jesus (1989: 82f) and Kester & Schmitt (2007) show that a plural noun without a definite marker is acceptable in a context where the referents are familiar.
Vos-de Jesus explains the contrast between e baka nan and baka nan as follows: The former must refer anaphorically to a group of referents previously introduced in the discourse, whereas the latter must refer to a group of referents familiar to both speaker and hearer. Dijkhoff refers to the use of "existentially asserted NPs" as requiring a plural marker. Kester & Schmitt (2007) refer to such forms as "disguised bare plurals", which have a definite feature.

Values

Variable plural marking of human or inanimate nouns

Example 47-43:
E baka ta kome yerba; Baka ta kome yerba; E bakanan ta kome yerba; Bakanan ta kome yerba.
E
def
baka
cow
ta
tns
kome
eat
yerba;
grass
baka
cow
ta
tns
kome
eat
yerba;
grass
e
def
baka
cow
nan
pl
ta
tns
kome
eat
yerba;
grass
baka
cow
nan
pl
ta
tns
kome
eat
yerba.
grass
The cow is eating grass. OR: Cows (in general) eat grass. OR: The cows are eating grass.

Source: Vos-de Jesus 1989: 82-83

Example 47-44:
Nan ta kria baka/ *bakanan.
Nan
3pl
ta
tns
kria
raise
baka/
cow
*baka
cow
nan.
pl
They keep cows.

Source: Dijkhoff 1983: 218

Example 47-45:
Kachonan a keda grita henter anochi.
Kacho
dog
nan
pl
a
pfv
keda
remain
grita
bark
henter
whole
anochi.
night
Dogs kept barking all night.

Source: Dijkhoff 1983: 220

Example 47-46:
El a bin ku regalo(*nan) pa mi; El a bin ku regalonan mashá karu pa mi.
El
3sg
a
pfv
bini
come
ku
with
regalo
present
(*nan)
(pl)
pa
for
mi;
1sg
El
3sg
a
pfv
bini
come
ku
with
regalo
present
nan
pl
mashá
very
karu
expensive
pa
for
mi.
1sg
He came with presents for me; He came with very expensive presents for me.

Source: Kester and Schmitt 2007: 116

Example 47-47:
Ta invitá tur amigu i konosí.
Ta
tns
invitá
invite
tur
all
amigu
friend
i
and
konosí.
acquaintance
All friends and acquaintances are invited.

Source: Maduro 1971: 9

Confidence:
Very certain