Number markers and numerals

[Fedor Rojanski]

     I had some thoughts on numerals  and  number  markers  that  were
shown  to  Edith  Moravcsik.  She  advised  me  to  place them in this
conference.

     It seems to  me  that  the  list  of  criteria,  which  allow  to
distinguish   number   markers   and  numerals  could  have  the  next
supplement:

     1) If quantifying formative expresses another grammatical meaning
simultaneously it is rather a number marker than a numeral.
     For example:
      a) Latin (as well as other  languages  with  flexion  expressing
case and number)
     Sg. puer - Pl. puer-i

      b) Songay (Gao dialect)
     Sg. faar-o `the field' - Pl. faar-ey `the fields'
     In Songay affix shows number as soon as definiteness
     (compare: faari `a field' - faariyan `fields')

     2) If it is not possible to omit quantifying  formative  (without
replacing  it  with  another  one) it is rather a number marker than a
numeral.  (Of course this rule works only in one direction - if we can
omit formative it could be a number marker as soon as a numeral).

     Songay
       faar-i hinka  `two fields'    ->   faari `field'
       faarey        `the fields'    ->   *faar-



                                              Fedor Rojanski
                                              Institute of Linguistics
                                              Moscow
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