Abstract counting and object counting across languages
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| Year of publication | 2020 |
| Type | Appeared in Conference without Proceedings |
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| Description | In this paper, we investigate two different functions cardinal numerals can have, i.e., abstract counting, used in contexts like `Two times two is four', and object counting, as in `four apples'. Languages often distinguish these functions morphologically and one can describe a representative typology of formal relations between the two types. In addition to symmetric numerals, there are two kinds of asymmetric cardinals, i.e., plain asymmetric and inverse asymmetric, as well as idiosyncratic numerals with two suppletive morphological forms. We demonstrate how the typology can be derived. |
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