Skip to content

Universal 556:

Posted in Universals Archive

Universal 556:

Original
Where there are contrasting forms for the absolute and contextual uses of cardinal numbers, there is always neutralization for some numerals, in which case the contextual form appears.
Standardized
Where there are contrasting forms for the absolute and contextual uses of cardinal numbers, there is always neutralization for some numerals, in which case the contextual form appears.
Keywords
cardinal numeral
Domain
word formation, syntax
Type
no genuine implication; rather: provided that
Status
achronic
Quality
absolute
Basis
56 languages mentioned in Greenberg 1978a
Source
Greenberg 1978a: 287 (#50)
Counterexamples

One Comment

  1. FP
    FP

    There is a fair number of languages in which there are distinct counting and discourse forms. In such instances we may call the former absolute and the latter contextual. Note also ##557, 560.

    1. May 2020

Comments are closed.