Singular may also be reinforced by the
reinforced by the suffix /-thi/ `single’ where the noun represents animals
or birds which usually move in groups.
/tįmč /
`wild boar’
/tįmčthi/
`wild boar which was single or alone’
Plural :
Nouns are overtly marked for plural.
The inflexion is marked in four ways. The four processes are mutually
exclusive.
(i)
Pluralizing by numerals :
/ą-dõ-mįa/
`five houses’
house-cl-five
(ii)
Pluralizing by quantifier :
A noun can be inflected for plural by modifying it with a
quantifier. Incidentally the quantifier /cu/ `all’ precedes the noun instead
of following it.
/cu mč/
`all men’
all-man
/taméy
tarab/
`herd of elephants’
elephant-herd
/macįb tarim/
`herd of cows’
cow-herd
/mč kitige/
`a few men’
man-few
(iii)
Pluralizing by suffixation :
Nouns are also marked for plural by
adding a plural suffix. There are two allomorphs of the plural suffix in
Mishmi.
(a) /-lą/
is used to inflect third person pronouns.
/cyįlą/
`they’
he-pl
/wé-lą/
`they’
he-pl
/h-lą/
`they’
he-pl
/é-lą/
`these’
this-pl
(b)/-wčlą/
is used to mark the plural of nouns other than pronouns.
ge/
