Re: Evolution of Plural Markers
| From: | Doug Dee <amateurlinguist@...> |
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| Date: | Sunday, February 1, 2004, 23:24 |
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In a message dated 1/30/2004 1:18:40 PM Eastern Standard Time,
magwich78@YAHOO.COM writes:
>What are the realistic ways by which plural markers develop?
I've seen it claimed that plural pronouns (they/them) have sometimes evolved
into plural affixes.
Since the word for "two" has sometimes developed into a dual affix, I suppose
that a higher numeral or a word meaning "some", "many" or "all" could
develop into a plural affix. I seem to recall that in Tok Pisin, "ol" (from
English "all") is devloping into a plural marker.
Doug