What is grammatical number in linguistics?

In linguistics, grammatical number is a feature of nouns, pronouns, adjectives, and verb agreement that signifies distinctions in count, such as 'one', 'two', or 'three or more'. It's a way grammar expresses quantity.

How is grammatical number typically expressed in languages?

Grammatical number is usually expressed through morphological means, such as inflection (changing word forms) or agreement (where different parts of speech change their form to match the number of a noun or pronoun).

What are the most common number distinctions found in languages like English?

The most common number distinction is between singular (one item) and plural (more than one item), as seen in English words like 'car' and 'cars'.

Can you provide an example of how grammatical number affects multiple parts of speech in a sentence?

Yes, in English, grammatical number affects nouns, pronouns, and verbs. For instance, in 'That apple is fresh,' 'apple' is singular, and 'that' and 'is' agree with it. In 'Those apples are fresh,' 'apples,' 'those,' and 'are' all reflect the plural number.

What is the distinction between count nouns and mass nouns regarding grammatical number?

Count nouns, like 'apple,' can be freely used in both singular and plural forms. Mass nouns, such as 'milk' or 'gold,' are typically invariant and do not change for number, though they can sometimes be used as count nouns in specific contexts.

Does every language have grammatical number as a category?

No, not all languages have grammatical number. Some languages express quantity solely through lexical means, using numerals or quantifiers, or through extensive systems of measure words.

What is Joseph Greenberg's proposed hierarchy for grammatical number?

Joseph Greenberg proposed a linguistic universal hierarchy stating that no language has a trial number unless it also has a dual, and no language has a dual unless it also has a plural. This hierarchy, however, does not account for the paucal number.

Where is obligatory plural marking commonly found across languages?

Obligatory plural marking on all nouns is prevalent in the languages of western and northern Eurasia, as well as most parts of Africa. Other regions show a more varied picture.

How does morphological typology relate to the presence or absence of plural marking?

Isolating languages, which tend to have less inflectional morphology, appear to favor no or non-obligatory plural marking. This is particularly observed in West African isolating languages.

What is the defining characteristic of the singular and plural number distinction?

The singular number denotes exactly one referent, while the plural number denotes more than one referent. For example, 'dog' is singular, and 'dogs' is plural in English.

In which parts of speech is a number distinction most commonly found?

While number distinctions can appear on nouns, verbs, adjectives, and even postpositions in various languages, pronouns are the part of speech where a number distinction is most commonly observed.

What is the dual number in grammar?

The dual number is a grammatical category that specifically denotes exactly two items, similar to how the singular denotes exactly one. For example, in Camsá, 'kesë' means 'dog' (singular), 'kesëat' means 'two dogs' (dual), and 'kesëëng' means 'dogs' (plural).

How does the presence of an obligatory dual affect the meaning of the plural?

In languages with an obligatory dual, the plural strictly means three or more items. This contrasts with languages that only have singular and plural, where plural can mean two or more.

What is the trial number in grammar?

The trial number is a grammatical category that denotes exactly three items. It is rare for this to be marked on nouns, but it is more common in pronouns, as seen in languages like Awa, where 'iyatade' means 'two dogs' (dual) and 'iyatado' means 'three dogs' (trial).

What is the paucal number?

The paucal number represents 'a few' items, indicating a small, inexactly numbered group. For instance, in Motuna, 'mahkata' is 'dog' (singular), 'mahkata karo' is 'two dogs' (dual), 'mahkata naa' is 'a few dogs' (paucal), and 'mahkata ngung' is 'dogs' (plural).

How does the lower bound of the paucal number vary depending on other number categories in a language?

The lower bound of the paucal number typically depends on whether a language also has a dual. If a language has only singular, paucal, and plural, the paucal often starts at two. However, if a dual is present, the paucal usually begins at three.

What is the 'greater paucal' number?

The greater paucal is a number category representing a larger inexactly numbered group than a standard paucal. Sursurunga pronouns, for example, distinguish between a paucal (about three or four) and a greater paucal (four or more).

What is the quadral number, and where is it most commonly found?

The quadral number denotes exactly four items. Its apparent use is primarily found in pronouns within languages of Oceania and in sign languages, though its existence as a distinct grammatical category is debated.

What is the quintal number?

The quintal number denotes exactly five items. Similar to the quadral, its presence is mostly noted in pronouns within sign languages, and its status as a distinct grammatical number is also debated.

What is the 'greater plural' number?

The greater plural is a number category larger than and beyond the standard plural, indicating a significantly large, often inexact, number of items. In Tswana, 'dintsha' is the plural for 'dogs,' while 'mantsha' signifies 'a very large number of dogs' (greater plural).

What is the 'greatest plural' number?

The greatest plural is a number category that signifies a quantity even larger than the 'greater plural,' representing an extremely high or uncountable number of items. Warekena uses 'shin' for singular, 'shine' for plural, 'shinawi' for 'very many dogs' (greater plural), and 'shinennawi' for 'very many dogs indeed, so many one cannot count them' (greatest plural).

What is the difference between distributive and collective plurals?

A distributive plural denotes multiple entities that are separated (in space or time) or distinct by type, while a collective plural views multiple entities as a single unit. For example, Dagaare has a distributive plural for 'dogs in different locations,' contrasting with the standard plural.

How does grammatical number marking differ across languages like English, Finnish, and French?

English typically marks number on nouns, pronouns, and third-person verbs. Finnish marks plural on most noun cases but uses the singular partitive with numerals. French nouns and adjectives often have silent plural markers, with articles being the primary spoken indicator of number.

What are the number distinctions in Modern Hebrew?

Modern Hebrew primarily has singular and plural forms for nouns, but some nouns also have distinct dual forms, particularly those related to numbers or body parts that commonly come in pairs, like 'eyes' (einayim).

How does Basque express grammatical number, particularly in its verb conjugations?

Basque nouns have four grammatical numbers: indefinite, definite singular, definite plural, and definite close plural. Verbs in Basque distinguish between four singular persons and three plural persons.

What is the 'transnumeral' or 'general number' category?

Transnumeral or general number refers to a state where an unmarked noun is ambiguous regarding number, meaning it could be singular or plural. This is common in languages like Chinese and Japanese, where number is often marked only when necessary or emphasized.

How do verbs agree in number in different languages?

In many languages, like French and English, verbs agree with the number of the subject. However, in Xavante, transitive verbs agree with the number of the object, and in West Greenlandic, verbs are marked for the number of both the subject and the object.

How do adjectives and determiners show number agreement?

Adjectives and determiners often agree in number with the nouns they modify. For example, French adjectives change form for plural ('grand' becomes 'grands'), unlike English 'tall.' English demonstratives like 'this/that' also change to 'these/those' in the plural.

What are some exceptions to standard number marking, such as the 'inanimate plural' in Arabic?

In Arabic, the plural of non-human nouns (referring to animals or inanimate objects) is treated as feminine singular, a phenomenon called the inanimate plural. This affects adjective agreement, as seen with 'buyut jamila' (beautiful houses), where 'buyut' (houses) is inanimate plural and takes a feminine singular adjective.

What are collective nouns, and how can they relate to grammatical number?

Collective nouns refer to a group of entities considered as a whole, like 'team' or 'flock.' While often treated as singular, in some dialects, like British English, they can take plural verb agreement ('the committee are meeting'), reflecting agreement 'in sensu' (in meaning).

What is the difference between semantic number and grammatical number?

Semantic number refers to the actual quantity of referents, expressed lexically (e.g., 'a few,' 'many'). Grammatical number, however, is the expression of these quantity distinctions through morphological or syntactic means within the language's grammar.

How is grammatical number formally expressed in synthetic versus analytic languages?

Synthetic languages typically express grammatical number through inflection (changing word endings or internal sounds). Analytic languages, like Chinese, often rely on word order or separate particles to convey number, as they have less inflection.

What are some common methods of formal expression for grammatical number?

Grammatical number can be formally expressed through affixation (prefixes, suffixes, infixes, circumfixes), simulfixation (internal sound changes like apophony), reduplication (doubling parts of words), suppletion (using different root words), and sometimes tonality or tone changes.

What is the role of number particles in expressing plurality?

Number particles, often found in Australian and Austronesian languages, are specialized words or morphemes used to indicate plurality. For example, Tagalog uses the particle 'mga' before a noun to indicate its plural form.

How does the obligatoriness of number marking vary across languages?

In some languages, like English, number is obligatorily marked in most contexts. Other languages, such as Chinese or Japanese, mark number optionally or only when needed for clarity. Some languages, like Bantu languages, mark both singular and plural forms.

What is a 'conflated number' in linguistics?

Conflated numbers are grammatical number categories formed by combining other number distinctions. For example, a 'singular-dual' category might exist, encompassing both one and two items, which is a conflation of the singular and dual concepts.

What is the 'dual of the plural' in Classical Arabic?

In Classical Arabic, the 'dual of the plural' indicates two sets of multiple items, implying a minimum of six items. This is distinct from the Breton 'composed dual and plural,' which means multiple sets of two items each.

What is the 'plural of the plural' or 'double plural'?

The 'plural of the plural,' also known as the double plural, is a grammatical category found in some languages where the plural form itself is pluralized to indicate multiple groups or sets of items. Classical Arabic exhibits this with nouns like 'kalb' (dog), 'aklub' (dogs), and 'akaalib' (groups of dogs).

What is meant by 'number agreement' in grammar?

Number agreement occurs when different parts of speech in a sentence (like verbs, adjectives, or determiners) change their form to match the grammatical number (singular, plural, dual, etc.) of the noun or pronoun they relate to.

Can grammatical number marking sometimes deviate from the actual quantity of referents?

Yes, grammatical number can sometimes exhibit a form-meaning mismatch. For instance, Ancient Greek neuter plurals took a singular verb, and in many languages, the plural pronoun form can be used for a single person to show respect or generality (e.g., the royal 'we').

What is a 'Frankendual' in linguistics?

A 'Frankendual' is a term used to describe a situation where a language's grammatical system combines elements that create a dual meaning in an unusual or 'constructed' way, often involving interactions between noun and verb morphology.

How do languages like Chinese and Japanese handle grammatical number marking?

Languages like Chinese and Japanese often have optional number marking. An unmarked noun is ambiguous regarding number, and plurality is typically indicated through context, quantifiers, or specific plural markers only when emphasis or clarity is needed.

What is the significance of 'classifiers' in relation to grammatical number in languages like Assamese?

In languages like Assamese, classifiers can fuse with the category of number, often carrying a definite or indefinite reading. The number of a noun is determined by adding classifier suffixes to either the noun or the numeral, but not typically both.

What is the 'nondual' number category?

The nondual number category signifies any number except two. For example, in Wangkumara, 'd̯it̯i' can mean 'dog(s)' in a nondual sense (one, or three or more), while 'd̯it̯ibula' specifically means 'two dogs' (dual).

How does the concept of 'inverse number' apply in languages like Kiowa and Jemez?

In inverse number systems, the marking on a noun indicates the number that is *not* present. For instance, a Class III noun in Kiowa might inherently be dual, and the inverse marker would change it to a nondual form.

What are 'composed numbers' in grammar?

Composed numbers are grammatical number categories formed by combining multiple number markers. Breton provides an example with 'daoulagadou,' which combines the dual marker 'daou' (two) with the plural marker '-ou' to mean 'pairs of eyes'.

What is the 'singular-dual' distinction found in some languages?

The singular-dual distinction groups 'one' and 'two' items into a single grammatical category. This is seen in some nouns in Kalaw Lagaw Ya, where 'umayl' means 'dog(s)' referring to either one or two dogs.

What is the difference between grammatical number and semantic number?

Grammatical number is a feature of grammar that marks quantity through morphology or syntax, like plural suffixes. Semantic number is the actual quantity itself, which can be expressed lexically through words like 'one,' 'two,' or 'many' in languages that lack grammatical number.

How do distributive and collective plurals differ in their semantic function?

Distributive plurals emphasize the separation or distinctness of items within a group (e.g., 'dogs in different locations'), while collective plurals emphasize the group's unity (e.g., 'a pack of dogs').

What is the significance of the 'general' number category found in languages like Pular?

In languages with a general number, the default noun form does not specify quantity and can mean one or more. Specific singular (singulative) and plural (plurative) forms are then derived from this general form.

How does the concept of 'number agreement' manifest in adjectives and determiners?

Adjectives and determiners often agree in number with the nouns they modify. For example, in French, 'un grand arbre' (a tall tree) uses the singular adjective 'grand,' while 'deux grands arbres' (two tall trees) uses the plural adjective 'grands'.

Grammatical Number Wiki: The Architecture of Quantity: A Deep Dive into Grammatical Number

Dive in with Flashcard Learning!

When you are ready...
🎮 Play the Wiki2Web Clarity Challenge Game🎮

Overview

Defining Grammatical Number

In linguistics, grammatical number is a fundamental feature of nouns, pronouns, adjectives, and verb agreement. It serves to express distinctions in count, differentiating between concepts such as 'one', 'two', or 'three or more' entities within a language's grammatical structure.^[1] While many languages, including English, primarily operate with a singular and plural distinction (e.g., car/cars), a fascinating array of languages exhibit more complex systems, incorporating dual, trial, paucal, and other nuanced categories.

Universal Presence and Variation

The expression of quantity through grammatical number is a widespread phenomenon across the world's languages. However, the specific manifestations and complexity of these systems vary considerably. While western and northern Eurasia, along with much of Africa, predominantly feature obligatory plural marking, other regions present a more heterogeneous landscape. Isolating languages, particularly those in West Africa, often favor non-obligatory or absent plural marking, suggesting a correlation between morphological typology and the presence of grammatical number.^[5]^[6]

Morphological Expression

Grammatical number is typically realized through morphological processes, such as inflection or agreement. For instance, in English, the noun apple becomes apples in the plural. This number distinction often extends to other parts of speech. Demonstrative determiners like that/those and verbs like is/are inflect to agree with the number of the noun they modify or whose subject they are.^[7] This agreement system ensures grammatical coherence within a sentence, reinforcing the quantity being conveyed.

Geographical Distribution

Regional Patterns

The obligatory marking of plural number on nouns is a common feature across the languages of western and northern Eurasia and most of Africa. In contrast, the rest of the world exhibits a more varied distribution. Southeast and East Asia, along with Australian languages, frequently display optional plural marking. Complete absence of plural marking is particularly noted in the languages of New Guinea and Australia.^[5]^[6]

Typological Correlations

Linguistic typology reveals interesting correlations. Isolating languages, characterized by minimal inflection, tend to favor either no plural marking or optional marking. This pattern is observable in Africa, where the isolating languages of West Africa often exhibit this characteristic.^[5]^[6] Furthermore, linguist Joseph Greenberg proposed a hierarchy of number categories: no language possesses a trial number without also having a dual, and no language has a dual without a plural. This hierarchy, however, does not fully encompass the paucal number.^[3]^[4]

Types of Number

Grammatical number systems vary significantly across languages, encompassing a wide spectrum of distinctions beyond the common singular and plural. Explore the diverse categories documented in linguistic research.

Singular & Plural

The most fundamental distinction, marking one referent (singular) versus more than one (plural). English exemplifies this with dog (singular) and dogs (plural). This distinction often affects nouns, pronouns, and verbs.

Singular denotes exactly one item, while plural denotes two or more. In English, this is marked on nouns (dog/dogs), pronouns (I/we), and third-person singular verbs (he walks/they walk). Some languages, like Latin, extend number marking to adjectives as well.^[7]^[7]^[10]

Dual

Specifically denotes exactly two items. This category is found in various language families, often with nuanced usage rules.

The dual number specifically marks exactly two referents. Languages like Camsá distinguish between singular (kes̈), dual (kes̈at - two dogs), and plural (kes̈ëng - dogs).^[15] In systems with an obligatory dual, plural strictly means three or more. In facultative dual systems, plural can mean two or more. Pronouns are frequently marked for dual, as seen in Māori (e.g., au - I, māua - we two exclusive).^[29]

Trial

Denotes exactly three items. This is a rarer category, primarily observed in pronouns and in specific language groups.

The trial number signifies precisely three items. While rare on nouns, it is more common in pronouns. Awa, for example, marks trial on nouns: iya (dog), iyatade (two dogs), iyatado (three dogs), and iyamadi (dogs).^[40]^[42]^[43] It is often debated whether some attested "trials" are genuinely distinct categories or merely specific forms of the paucal.

Paucal

Represents 'a few' or a small, inexact number of items. Its precise meaning often depends on the presence of other number categories.

The paucal number signifies 'a few' or a small, indefinite quantity. In Motuna, it denotes a small group: mahkata (dog), mahkatakaro (two dogs), mahkatanaa (a few dogs), and mahkatangung (dogs).^[72] The lower bound of the paucal typically aligns with the presence of other categories; in singular/paucal/plural systems, it starts at two, but in singular/dual/paucal/plural systems, it begins at three. The upper limit is context-dependent, ranging from around five to over twenty in different languages.^[79]

Greater Paucal

A larger, inexact quantity, distinct from a smaller paucal. Found in pronoun systems, particularly in Austronesian languages.

The greater paucal denotes a larger inexact group than a standard paucal. Sursurunga pronouns exhibit a five-way distinction including paucal and greater paucal. The paucal is used for smaller groups (around three or four), while the greater paucal applies to groups of four or more, with some overlap. For instance, a group of four could be expressed by either category.^[119]^[120]

Greatest Plural

Represents an extremely large or uncountable quantity, extending beyond the 'greater plural'.

The greatest plural signifies a quantity beyond the 'greater plural', often implying an uncountable or vast amount. Warekena demonstrates this with -ne (plural), -nawi (very many), and -nenawi (very many indeed, uncountable).^[184]^[185] This category is sometimes referred to as the 'global plural' or 'plural of abundance'.

General, Singulative, Plurative

Some languages use a 'general' form as the default, with 'singulative' for one and 'plurative' for more than one.

In certain languages, the default noun form is 'general', indicating an unspecified number. From this, 'singulative' (one) and 'plurative' (more than one) forms are derived. Pular exemplifies this: bare (dog(s) - general), bareeru (dog - singulative), and bareeji (dogs - plurative).^[195]^[196] Japanese uses a general/plurative distinction for nouns.^[197]

Minimal, Unit Augmented, Augmented

A system where number categories are relative to the smallest possible group for a given person category.

This system defines number categories based on the minimal group size for each person category. 'Minimal' is the smallest group (one for 1st exclusive, 2nd, 3rd person; two for 1st inclusive). 'Unit augmented' is one more than minimal. 'Augmented' functions as a plural. Bininj Kunwok pronouns illustrate this: ngarduk (I - minimal), ngarrewoneng (we two exclusive - unit augmented), ngadberre (we three or more exclusive - augmented).^[218]

Composed Numbers

Number categories formed by combining existing number markers, such as dual + plural.

Composed numbers arise from the combination of distinct number markers. Breton exhibits a 'dual + plural' construction, daoulagadou ('pairs of eyes'), contrasting with the simple plural lagadou ('eyes').^[241]^[242] Classical Arabic also features complex plural compositions, like the 'dual of the plural' indicating 'two groups of multiple each'.^[244]

Numberless Languages

Languages that lack grammatical number distinctions entirely, relying on context or explicit numerals.

A small number of languages, such as Pirahã, do not possess grammatical number distinctions at all. Quantity is conveyed through context or explicit quantifiers and numerals.^[285] Acehnese is similar, though it may retain a singular/plural distinction in first-person pronouns.^[285]

Distributives & Collectives

Categories focusing on how group members are perceived (separated vs. unified), rather than just quantity.

Distributives and collectives, while related to number, focus on the conceptualization of group members. The distributive plural, seen in Dagaare (baare 'dogs', baarere 'dogs in different locations'), signifies entities that are separate in space, time, or type.^[295]^[296] Distributive pronouns also exist, such as in Yir-Yoront, distinguishing between joint and separate actions.^[299]

Conflated Numbers

Number categories formed by merging distinct number values, often appearing secondarily.

Conflated numbers are formed by combining existing number categories. A 'singular-dual' conflation, for instance, groups one and two together. Kalaw Lagaw Ya nouns exhibit this: umay (one or two dogs) versus umayl (three or more dogs).^[257]^[258] Hopi verbs show a similar singular-dual distinction, sometimes termed a 'Frankendual'.^[262]

Summary of Number Systems

A comparative overview of the diverse grammatical number distinctions found across world languages, highlighting the number of distinctions and their typical manifestations.

Grammatical Number Distinctions in World Languages
System	Number of Distinctions	Example
System	Number of Distinctions	Language	Part(s) of speech	Source
(Numberless)	1	Pirahã	-	^[286]
Singular, plural	2	English	Nouns, pronouns, verbs (3rd person)	^[7]
General, singulative	2	Sidama	Nouns (some)	^[199]
General, plurative	2	Japanese	Nouns	^[287]
General, greater plural	2	Burushaski	Nouns (some)	^[212]
Minimal, augmented	2	Ilocano	Pronouns	^[216]^[217]
Singular-dual, plural	2	Kalaw Lagaw Ya	Nouns	^[258]
Singular-dual, plural	2	Hopi	Verbs	^[261]^[262]
Singular-paucal, plural	2	Zuni	Nouns	^[271]^[272]
Singular-paucal, plural	2	Larike	Verbs (non-human referents)	^[265]
Singular-dual-trial, plural	2	Tuyuca	Nouns (inanimate)	^[265]^[266]
Singular-dual-trial-quadral, plural	2	Piratapuyo	Nouns (some)	^[267]^[269]
Nondual, dual	2	Wangkumara	Nouns	^[276]
Nondual, dual	2	Timbisha	Verbs (some)	^[281]
Singular, dual, plural	3	Alutiiq	Nouns, pronouns, verbs	^[288]
Singular, paucal, plural	3	Mocoví	Nouns	^[73]^[75]
Singular, plural, double plural	3	Somali	Nouns (some)	^[248]
Singular, plural, greater plural	3	Tswana	Nouns (some)	^[289]
General, singulative, paucal	3	Hamer	Nouns (some)	^[201]
General, singulative, plurative	3	Pular	Nouns	^[196]
General, dual, paucal	3	Warlpiri	Nouns	^[202]
General, dual, plurative	3	Bambassi	Nouns	^[290]
Minimal, unit augmented, augmented	3	Bininj Kunwok	Pronouns	^[218]
Minimal, paucal, plural	3	Kayapo	Pronouns	^[239]^[240]
Singular, dual, trial, plural	4	Urama	Nouns, pronouns	^[291]
Singular, dual, trial, plural	4	Lenakel	Verbs, pronouns	^[292]
Singular, dual, paucal, plural	4	Motuna	Nouns	^[293]
Singular, dual, paucal, plural	4	Yimas	Pronouns	^[85]
Singular, dual, plural, dual + plural (4+)	4	Breton	Nouns (some)	^[241]^[242]
Singular, dual, plural, plural + dual (6+)	4	Classical Arabic	Nouns (some)	^[244]
Singular, dual, plural, double plural	4	Classical Arabic	Nouns (some)	^[246]^[247]
Singular, dual, plural, greater plural	4	Barngarla	Nouns	^[175]
Singular, dual, plural, greater plural	4	Mokilese	Pronouns	^[177]
Singular, paucal, plural, greater plural	4	Hualapai	Verbs (some)	^[178]
Singular, plural, greater plural, greatest plural	4	Warekena	Nouns	^[185]^[186]
Singular, plural, greater plural, greatest plural	4	Daats'iin	Verbs (some cases)	^[193]
General, singulative, paucal, and plurative	4	Baiso	Nouns	^[205]
General, singulative, paucal, greater plural	4	Hamer	Nouns (some)	^[214]
General, dual, trial, plurative	4	Arabana	Nouns	^[208]
General, dual, plurative, greater plural	4	Kaytetye	Nouns	^[209]^[211]
Singular, dual, trial, quadral*, plural	5	Russian Sign Language	Pronouns	^[141]
Singular, dual, trial, paucal, plural	5	Mussau	Pronouns	^[76]^[77]
Singular, dual, paucal, greater paucal, plural	5	Sursurunga	Pronouns	^[119]
Singular, dual, paucal, plural, greater plural	5	Mele-Fila	Pronoun/article combinations	^[179]
Singular, dual, plural, double plural, triple plural	5	Classical Arabic	Nouns (some)	^[251]
General, singulative, dual, plurative, greater plural	5	Damascus Arabic	Nouns (some)	^[190]
Singular, dual, trial, quadral, quintal, plural	6	Levantine Arabic Sign Language	Pronouns	^[139]
Singular, dual, trial, quadral*/paucal, plural (5+), plural (2+)	6	Marshallese	Pronouns	^[147]^[149]
Singular, dual, trial, quadral, [six referents], plural	7	Ugandan Sign Language	Pronouns	^[142]
Singular, dual, plural, double plural, triple plural, quadruple plural, quintuple plural, sextuple plural	8	Classical Arabic (15th century)	The word for camel	^[252]
Singular, dual, trial, quadral, quintal, [six referents], ... [nine referents], plural	10	American Sign Language	Pronouns (some speakers)	^[171]
Singular, dual, trial, quadral, quintal, [six referents], ... [ten referents], plural	11	Israeli Sign Language	Pronouns	^[172]
Singular, dual, trial, ... plural	?^†	Bislama	Pronouns	^[126]
*Category's existence has been debated ^†No exact limit

Teacher's Corner

Edit and Print this course in the Wiki2Web Teacher Studio

Edit and Print Materials from this study in the wiki2web studio

Click here to open the "Grammatical Number" Wiki2Web Studio curriculum kit

Use the free Wiki2web Studio to generate printable flashcards, worksheets, exams, and export your materials as a web page or an interactive game.

True or False?

Test Your Knowledge!

Gamer's Corner

Are you ready for the Wiki2Web Clarity Challenge?

Learn about grammatical_number while playing the wiki2web Clarity Challenge game.

Unlock the mystery image and prove your knowledge by earning trophies. This simple game is addictively fun and is a great way to learn!

Play now

Explore More Topics

Discover other topics to study!

novavax

invasion of yugoslavia

ncaa division i men's wrestling championships

pushkin saint petersburg

eni

cicero

fanduel sports network indiana

list of flight simulator video games

atlanta city hall

jegunovce municipality

References

A full list of references for this article are available at the Grammatical number Wikipedia page

Feedback & Support

To report an issue with this page, or to find out ways to support the mission, please click here.

Disclaimer

Scholarly Note

This document has been generated by an Artificial Intelligence, drawing upon established linguistic research. It is intended for academic and educational purposes, providing a structured overview of grammatical number systems. While efforts have been made to ensure accuracy and comprehensiveness based on the provided source material, the information should be considered a starting point for deeper study.

This is not a substitute for expert linguistic consultation. The complexities of grammatical number across languages are vast, and this content does not replace the rigorous analysis and nuanced understanding provided by professional linguists or comprehensive linguistic databases. Always refer to primary sources and consult with specialists for definitive linguistic analysis.

The creators of this page are not responsible for any interpretations or applications of the information presented herein.

The Architecture of Quantity

💡 Dive in with Flashcard Learning! 💡

Overview ℹ️

🔢 Defining Grammatical Number

🌐 Universal Presence and Variation

🗣️ Morphological Expression

Geographical Distribution 🌍

🗺️ Regional Patterns

🔗 Typological Correlations

Types of Number 📚

1️⃣ Singular & Plural

✌️ Dual

🥉 Trial

🔢 Paucal

➕ Greater Paucal

🌟 Greatest Plural

⚪ General, Singulative, Plurative

💡 Minimal, Unit Augmented, Augmented

🧩 Composed Numbers

🚫 Numberless Languages

↔️ Distributives & Collectives

🔄 Conflated Numbers

Summary of Number Systems 📊

Teacher's Corner 🧑‍🏫

Edit and Print this course in the Wiki2Web Teacher Studio

True or False? 🤔

❓ Test Your Knowledge! ❓

Gamer's Corner 🎮

Are you ready for the Wiki2Web Clarity Challenge?

Explore More Topics

📜 Discover other topics to study!

References

📜 References

Feedback & Support 👍

To report an issue with this page, or to find out ways to support the mission, please click here.

Disclaimer ⚠️

📜 Scholarly Note

Dive in with Flashcard Learning!

Overview

Defining Grammatical Number

Universal Presence and Variation

Morphological Expression

Geographical Distribution

Regional Patterns

Typological Correlations

Types of Number

Singular & Plural

Dual

Trial

Paucal

Greater Paucal

Greatest Plural

General, Singulative, Plurative

Minimal, Unit Augmented, Augmented

Composed Numbers

Numberless Languages

Distributives & Collectives

Conflated Numbers

Summary of Number Systems

Teacher's Corner

True or False?

Test Your Knowledge!

Gamer's Corner

Discover other topics to study!

References

Feedback & Support

Disclaimer

Scholarly Note