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Re: Subject: Re: TEXT: pemci
la lojbab cusku di'e
> Date: Wed, 7 Dec 1994 01:43:30 -0500
> From: Logical Language Group <lojbab@ACCESS.DIGEX.NET>
> Subject: Re: Subject: Re: TEXT: pemci
> I think Chinese also has a different way of indicating number than the
> standard European model, but perhaps our Chinese readers can add to this.
> (Veijo speak up for Finnish, too, since it is also non I-E).
Finnish has a quite regular plural - when explicit quantifiers are
not used. The plural can also make the definite/indefinite distinction
unlike the singular.
talo the house singular, nominative
talot the houses plural, nominative
taloja houses plural, partitive (part of some
universal total mass of houses)
Quantifiers are usually attached to the singular partitive
viisi taloa five houses ( ~ five pieces/units of house )
( viisi kappaletta taloja )
If the quantifier is attached to the plural we are speaking of sets
and the quantifier will be in plural!
viidet housut five pairs of trousers
A quantifier/qualifier pair is attached to the plural partitive with
the qualifier in the singular partitive
viisi kiloa jauhoja five kilos of flour
----
Japanese has no marked plural as such but sometimes duplication is
used ( yama -> yamayama ) or a suffix with plural implication
( hito -> hitotachi ). Quantifiers are always used with a qualifier
hon o yomu
book + obj marker read
I/you/he/she/someone read(s) a book/books
(the subject is quite often elided)
hon o nisatsu yomu
book 2 volumes read
I read two books
nisatsu no hon o yomu
2 volumes + gen book read
I read a 2-volume set of books
josei o hitori miru
woman + obj 1 people see
I see one woman
hitori no josei o miru
I see a single woman
--
co'o mi'e veion
---------------------------------
.i mi du la'o sy. Veijo Vilva sy.
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