Re: Re : Re: Fw: irregular conlangs

Dans un courrier dat=E9 du 08/10/99 00:46:40  , Nick Taylor a =E9crit :

> > Palantla Chinantec has different sets of numbers, depending on the count=
ed
>  > word(s) being animate or inanimate:
> =20
>  Japanese does something like that.
all asian languages i know do have such counters.
in "Bluff Your Way in Japan" - very funny and very true -
Robert Ainsley lists the japanese counters that (bluffing) way :


"People;
Small animals and fish, not including rabbits;
Large animals;
Birds (including rabbits);
Long narrow things;
Tiny things;
Flat things, not including tennis courts, airport runways or ponds;
Tennis courts, airport runways and ponds;
Machines;
Small ships;
Large ships;
Planes;
Hand tools, instruments and guns;
Books;
Newspapers;
Large building but not houses;
Houses but not housing lots;
Events and housing lots;
Bundles of spinach;
Bunches of other things but not spinach;
Sliced things;
Cups, without saucers;
Plates;
Suits and dresses;
Pairs of shoes;
Packs of cards and sets of tableware including cups and saucers together;
Chopsticks;
Things which do not fall into the above categories such as words,
eggs and pieces of furniture."


there are still many more "counters" only used as adverbs with number
ichi "one" such as "itteki", "ikkoku", "issai", etc.


mathias