Universal #558

Legacy number: 558

 Number  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)

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Discussion
Notes
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.
Comment
Frans Plank · 3 Aug 2006
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 <a class="innerLink" href="browse.php?entry_id=557"><img src="../img/entry.gif" border="0">, <a class="innerLink" href="browse.php?entry_id=560"><img src="../img/entry.gif" border="0">