The Plural Number
|
| Plurality is expressed
intwo ways :[a] ta signals a plurality which
is an exclusive part of an [unidentified] inclusive
whole, a homogeneous subject of a heterogeneous set
and [b] -khru signals a plurality which is
an inclusive whole. In the case of substantives, the
inclusive whole that -khru marks is homogeneous
while in the case of pronouns, it is heterogeneous. |
| Pronoun |
| 278 |
atamüi |
‘we [excl. prn.
& excl.l.] - exclusive |
| |
|
part of inclusive
whole’ |
| |
|
|
| 279 |
akhrumüi |
‘we [incl. prn.
& excl. pl.] - inclusive |
| |
|
heterogeneous
whole [people of different |
| |
|
identities. e.g.
of different villages]’ |
|
| Substantive |
| |
| Plurality in the
b examples is an all-inclusive whole while in the a
examples, it is an exclusive part of an unidentified
whole which contains referents other than the ones specified.
For instances in 285, the group consists only of green
referents in b whereas in a it consists of various referents
of various colors, the green ones forming an exclusive
subset. The exclusive part that ta signifies
is an exhaustive subset. This is clear when ta is postposed
to numerals and other post modifiers. |
| |
| In 287a, the group
consists of dogs and other objects, perhaps some other
animals etc. In 288a, there are only three dogs in the
group and there are other animals. In 289a, there are
only three black dogs,there are dogs of other colours
and some other animals. In 290a, there are only three
black and good-looking dogs in the group, there are
other black dogs which are not good-looking and dogs
of other colours and perhaps some other animals....
In the b examples, the group consists only of three
black dogs ; in 290b, it consists only of three good-looking
black dogs : there are no bad-looking dogs or dogs of
other colours or other animals. |
From the inclusive-whole meaning follows the all-inclusive
meaning.
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i1
pfo ko2
