The Morphological Derivation of Numerals

Abstract

The numerals that exist in natural languages can be divided into different classes of numerals, of which the most common are cardinals, ordinals, fractionals, multiplicatives, approximatives, collectives and distributives. Often in studies on numerals, it is (implicitly) assumed that the numeral classes, if morphologically derived, are universally derived from cardinals, and the exceptions to this are overlooked or ignored. In this thesis the numeral classes are morphologically analysed in a sample of five structurally and genetically unrelated languages: Dutch, Bulgarian, Hungarian, Japanese and Adyghe. What patterns of derivation can be observed? And what can these patterns tell us about the morphology and meaning of numerals of different classes? The results do not support the ‘naive’ picture. Ten non-typical derivation paths were attested. Four of them connect the fractional denominator and the ordinal numerals. Four others connect the multiplicative to cardinals, ordinals, approximatives and distributives respectively. Two of them connect the multiplicative and the fractional denominator. Cognitively, the numerals below 4 are processed by the Object Tracking System (OTS), and the numerals 5 and higher are processed by the Approximate Number System (ANS), according to Spelke (2011). Ordinal and fractional constructions in my sample seem to reflect this distinction: only the forms involving lower numerals have suppletive forms. It is also reflected in the numeric scope of the derivational rules for multiplicatives and collectives. My sample does not exhaust all derivational possibilities. Future research may discover more ‘exotic’ derivations.