If a language includes numeral classifiers as its dominant mode of forming quantification expressions, then it will also have facultative expression of the plural. In other words, it will not have obligatory marking of the plural on nouns.
Standardized
IF numeral classifiers are included in the dominant mode of forming quantification expressions, THEN plural marking on nouns will not be obligatory.
1. Sanches 1973: 13: A quick survey of these exceptional languages reveals that (1) either the plural or the classifier system is ‘weakly developed’ and that (2) they are located geographically in what we might call a transition area where groups of languages of (at least) two different genetic affiliations have been in contact for a long time. It seems possible that the prevailing conditions in the structure of quantification expressions in these languages represent a state of change from the dominance of one feature, i.e. either CLASSIFIER or PLURAL MARKING, to the other as a result of a contact situation.2. Cf. the claim by Serebrennikov (#1353): “Numeral classifiers occur in languages where plural is weakly developed.”
1. Sanches 1973: 13: A quick survey of these exceptional languages reveals that (1) either the plural or the classifier system is ‘weakly developed’ and that (2) they are located geographically in what we might call a transition area where groups of languages of (at least) two different genetic affiliations have been in contact for a long time. It seems possible that the prevailing conditions in the structure of quantification expressions in these languages represent a state of change from the dominance of one feature, i.e. either CLASSIFIER or PLURAL MARKING, to the other as a result of a contact situation.2. Cf. the claim by Serebrennikov (#1353): “Numeral classifiers occur in languages where plural is weakly developed.”