Universal #976

Legacy number: 976

 Number  972
 Original  If there are analogical changes in their inflectional paradigms, the forms (stems and affixes) of singular are more likely replaced than forms (stems and affixes) of other numbers.
 Standardized  When there are analogical changes in their inflectional paradigms, the forms (stems and affixes) of singular are more likely to be replaced than forms of other numbers.
 Keywords  stem, affix, number, singular, non-singular, analogical change
 Domain  morphology
 Type  unconditional
 Status  diachronic
 Quality  statistical
 Basis  Indo-European languages
 Source  Maøczak 1963: 30, Maøczak 1966: 100, Maøczak 1978: 54, Maøczak 1980: 284

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Discussion
Notes
1. Although the investigation is based only on Indo-European languages, the author assumes his generalisation to be valid for all languages (Maøczak 1963: 19; 1978: 57). Maøczak regards his investigation as different from Kury:owicz's (especially Kury:owicz 1949; see Maøczak 1978). The universals of Kury:owicz and Maøczak are quite distinct from each other (see Best 1973: 61-107 and Anttila 1977: 76-80). 2. Probably an implication:IF there is replacement of stems and affixes of non-singular forms, THEN there is replacement of stems and affixes of singular forms.
Comment
Frans Plank · 3 Aug 2006
1. Although the investigation is based only on Indo-European languages, the author assumes his generalisation to be valid for all languages (Maøczak 1963: 19; Maøczak 1978: 57). Maøczak regards his investigation as different from Kury:owicz's (especially Kury:owicz 1949; see Maøczak 1978). The universals of Kury:owicz and Maøczak are quite distinct from each other (see Best 1973: 61-107 and Anttila 1977: 76-80).

2. Probably an implication: IF there is replacement of stems and affixes of non-singular forms, THEN there is replacement of stems and affixes of singular forms.