In this study definiteness is considered in view of information structures, especially giving weight to the notion of "familiarity." We compare it with three other information structures: old- and new-information, theme and rheme, and reference. Through this comparison we find that the category of definiteness is independent from the other structures, although it correlates with them.
Then, this paper analyses the Egyptian
short play "cArafa Kayfa Yamuutu" by Tawfiiq al-Hakiim to show how definite noun
phrases are used in discourse, and we found that the following features decide
the usage of definite noun phrases:
The result tells us that the structure of definiteness and indefiniteness is not only defined through hearersユ or readersユ state, but also that definiteness can be employed actively or subjectively by the speaker/writer. Definiteness is one independent information structure and a device which can be used actively by writers/speakers to send their message to others.
(The paper itself is written in Japanese.)