From LOJBAN%CUVMB.BITNET@uga.cc.uga.edu Wed Dec 7 04:20:01 1994 Message-Id: <199412070919.AA03196@nfs1.digex.net> Date: Wed Dec 7 04:20:01 1994 From: Veijo Vilva Subject: Re: Subject: Re: TEXT: pemci Status: RO la lojbab cusku di'e > Date: Wed, 7 Dec 1994 01:43:30 -0500 > From: Logical Language Group > 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. ---------------------------------