Return-Path: <@FINHUTC.HUT.FI:LOJBAN@CUVMB.BITNET> Received: from FINHUTC.hut.fi by xiron.pc.helsinki.fi with smtp (Linux Smail3.1.28.1 #1) id m0rFIXN-00006wC; Wed, 7 Dec 94 11:19 EET Message-Id: Received: from FINHUTC.HUT.FI by FINHUTC.hut.fi (IBM VM SMTP V2R2) with BSMTP id 8227; Wed, 07 Dec 94 11:19:55 EET Received: from SEARN.SUNET.SE (NJE origin MAILER@SEARN) by FINHUTC.HUT.FI (LMail V1.1d/1.7f) with BSMTP id 8224; Wed, 7 Dec 1994 11:19:51 +0200 Received: from SEARN.SUNET.SE (NJE origin LISTSERV@SEARN) by SEARN.SUNET.SE (LMail V1.2a/1.8a) with BSMTP id 6096; Wed, 7 Dec 1994 10:16:32 +0100 Date: Wed, 7 Dec 1994 11:19:06 +0200 Reply-To: veion@XIRON.PC.HELSINKI.FI Sender: Lojban list From: Veijo Vilva Subject: Re: Subject: Re: TEXT: pemci X-To: lojban@cuvmb.cc.columbia.edu To: Veijo Vilva Content-Length: 2132 Lines: 67 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. ---------------------------------