4 On co-plurals: Cross-linguistic evidence of competing pluralization strategies in the domain of nouns
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Thomas Stolz
Abstract
The paper investigates the recurrence of competing plurals across languages of different genealogical affiliation as well as different typological and geographic backgrounds. It is shown that the phenomenon is widespread. In some languages, it affects numerous nouns. Competing plurals may be used to differentiate meanings of otherwise polysemous nouns. There is also ample evidence of the absence of genuinely semantic distinctions. Style and register are often decisive factors for the choice of plural.
Abstract
The paper investigates the recurrence of competing plurals across languages of different genealogical affiliation as well as different typological and geographic backgrounds. It is shown that the phenomenon is widespread. In some languages, it affects numerous nouns. Competing plurals may be used to differentiate meanings of otherwise polysemous nouns. There is also ample evidence of the absence of genuinely semantic distinctions. Style and register are often decisive factors for the choice of plural.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Frontmatter I
- Preface V
- Contents VII
- 1 The tonal marking of number on nominals in the Wagi dialect of Beria 1
- 2 Number inflection of English loanwords in Welsh 35
- 3 Two morphologies, two stress systems, shaken, not stirred: Number marking on Russian borrowings in Kamas 63
- 4 On co-plurals: Cross-linguistic evidence of competing pluralization strategies in the domain of nouns 107
- 5 Towards a typology of singulatives: Definition and overview of markers 155
- Index 183
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Frontmatter I
- Preface V
- Contents VII
- 1 The tonal marking of number on nominals in the Wagi dialect of Beria 1
- 2 Number inflection of English loanwords in Welsh 35
- 3 Two morphologies, two stress systems, shaken, not stirred: Number marking on Russian borrowings in Kamas 63
- 4 On co-plurals: Cross-linguistic evidence of competing pluralization strategies in the domain of nouns 107
- 5 Towards a typology of singulatives: Definition and overview of markers 155
- Index 183
