The complex quantifier of Spanish algún que otro

Abstract

In this work, we analyse the internal structure and semantic properties of the Spanish nonspecific complex quantifier algún que otro 'lit. some that other'. We argue that que in algún que otro and its variants (algunos que otros, uno que otro, unos que otros) is a disjunctive coordinating conjunction with an inclusive interpretation that introduces compatible alternatives, and also conveys, in combination with otro, a sense of disconnection between entities, which blocks the group interpretation and triggers a distributive reading over events