Universal #560

Legacy number: 560

 Number  558
 Original  The existence of a separate absolute form for a particular numerical value implies its existence for the next lower value.
 Standardized  IF there is a separate absolute form for a particular numerical value, THEN there is a separate absolute form for the next lower value as well.
 Keywords  cardinal numeral
 Domain  inflection
 Type  implication
 Status  achronic
 Quality  absolute
 Basis  56 languages mentioned in Greenberg 1978a
 Source  Greenberg 1978a: 287 (#51)

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Discussion
Counterexamples
In Hungarian (Finno-Ugric, Uralic), there is no separate absolute form for ‘one’. Cf. forms for ‘two’: két (contextual), kettö (absolute). In Mandarin (Sinitic, Sino-Tibetan), there is no separate absolute form for ‘two’.
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, 558.
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=558"><img src="../img/entry.gif" border="0">