On the (non)optionality of the Turkish classifier tane

Numeral constructions (NCs) display a robust pattern of strong indefiniteness. While they can also be definite via a definite determiner, in languages lacking articles, definiteness for NCs typically relies on alternative markers like demonstratives. Conversely, bare nouns in articleless languages can be freely definite, an option attributed to the covert iota operator in the neo-Carlsonian framework. The prevalent view treats NCs as predicative expressions of type 〈e,t〉, defaulting to an existential interpretation in argument positions in the absence of an overt determiner, but it remains unclear why iota does not apply to NCs in articleless languages. This paper seeks to unravel this puzzle by analyzing the counting system in Turkish, an articleless language with an optional classifier, tane. Turkish NCs stand out by freely conveying both definiteness and indefiniteness without tane, while tane renders them exclusively indefinite. Drawing from this contrast, I argue that NCs cross-linguistically function as inherently argumental expressions of type e, with indefiniteness (via a choice function) originating from a cardinal head residing within their structure. Taking the predicative use of NCs to be derived only when structurally necessary and relying on iota as a type shifting operator, I attribute the incompatibility of NCs with iota to the absence of a type mismatch in argument positions. Turkish, however, accommodates inherently predicative NCs alongside default argumental NCs by featuring both covert and overt cardinal heads. While tane spells out the form that has indefinite force, the covert head yields predicative NCs, making definiteness possible via iota type shifting. The analysis finds support from two other optional classifier languages, Farsi and Western Armenian, reinforcing the link between cardinality and indefiniteness.