The reference system of Mina

Abstract The system of reference in Mina (Central Chadic) contains several functions that are not attested in other languages discussed in this volume. Bare nouns in Mina refer to entities rather than semantic concepts. Referential functions that have the subject in their scope differ from those that have other grammatical relations in their scope. The coding of the referent of a noun phrase includes: a specific referent, deduced referent, remote previous mention, unspecified referent, locative referent, and no instructions to identify the referent. The language codes the function of a switch reference, which can have all grammatical relations in its scope.