Cardinal numerals
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Rossella Pannain
Abstract
While constituting a semantically homogeneous class, cardinal numerals cross-linguistically display a rich variety of morphosyntactic properties. An approach to such variation, with the aim of identifying a limited range of morphosyntactic statuses to which these properties are related, has been taken through the application of the Role and Reference Grammar (RRG) descriptive-interpretive model. Among the different statuses are those prototypically held by major categories, like nouns and verbs. However, the non-alignment hypothesis within RRG, according to which ontological, lexical and syntactic categories do not necessarily overlap, allows the occurrence of numerals as nucleus of a reference phrase, or nucleus of a clause, to be accounted for. While pointing out elements of similarity in the morphosyntax of numerals and other word classes, the analysis highlights crucial divergences between numerals and adjectives, a word class numerals are frequently equated to in the literature. The languages mentioned here belong to diverse typological and genetic groupings.
Abstract
While constituting a semantically homogeneous class, cardinal numerals cross-linguistically display a rich variety of morphosyntactic properties. An approach to such variation, with the aim of identifying a limited range of morphosyntactic statuses to which these properties are related, has been taken through the application of the Role and Reference Grammar (RRG) descriptive-interpretive model. Among the different statuses are those prototypically held by major categories, like nouns and verbs. However, the non-alignment hypothesis within RRG, according to which ontological, lexical and syntactic categories do not necessarily overlap, allows the occurrence of numerals as nucleus of a reference phrase, or nucleus of a clause, to be accounted for. While pointing out elements of similarity in the morphosyntax of numerals and other word classes, the analysis highlights crucial divergences between numerals and adjectives, a word class numerals are frequently equated to in the literature. The languages mentioned here belong to diverse typological and genetic groupings.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Foreword and acknowledgements vii
- Introduction 1
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PART I. Types of word classes
- Carving verb classes from corpora 17
- Classes of creation verbs 37
- On Light Nouns 51
- The ‘new adjectives’ of Tswana 75
- The Chinese adjective as a word class 95
- Qualifying modifier encoding and adjectival typology 119
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PART II. Minor and neglected word classes
- Hungarian is a classifier language 141
- Cardinal numerals 161
- On the borders of neglected word classes 181
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PART III. Across word classes
- Between adjective and noun 203
- On decategorization and its relevance in German 227
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PART IV. Radical views: Do we really need word classes?
- Word-class features and reduplicative meaning 245
- Half and other unique words 263
- Index of languages 283
- Index of names 285
- Index of subjects 289
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Foreword and acknowledgements vii
- Introduction 1
-
PART I. Types of word classes
- Carving verb classes from corpora 17
- Classes of creation verbs 37
- On Light Nouns 51
- The ‘new adjectives’ of Tswana 75
- The Chinese adjective as a word class 95
- Qualifying modifier encoding and adjectival typology 119
-
PART II. Minor and neglected word classes
- Hungarian is a classifier language 141
- Cardinal numerals 161
- On the borders of neglected word classes 181
-
PART III. Across word classes
- Between adjective and noun 203
- On decategorization and its relevance in German 227
-
PART IV. Radical views: Do we really need word classes?
- Word-class features and reduplicative meaning 245
- Half and other unique words 263
- Index of languages 283
- Index of names 285
- Index of subjects 289
