Case inflection on numerals

This parameter considers the marking of case on pronominal numerals and adnominal numerals, which may differ within a language. Pronominal numerals are those that appear independently in place of a noun, while adnominal numerals appear in attributive function alongside the noun they modify. To determine the case marking of adnominal numerals, numbers ‘three’ and higher should be considered in oblique cases (such as instrumental).[1] Since the case marking of pronominal and adnominal numerals may differ, multiple values can be listed with an ampersand (&).[2]

Types:

NoCase: The language does not use case affixes, not even on nouns.

NoPronNum: The language has case affixes, but numerals do not appear in pronominal function. (Nouns – or some replacement – are required to appear alongside numerals.)

PronNum=NCase: Pronominal numerals are inflected the same[3] as the nouns they replace.

PronNumNonN: Pronominal numerals are inflected differently than the nouns they replace.[4]

ProNumNoCase: Pronominal numerals are not inflected, whereas the nouns that they replace are.

AdNumNoCase: Adnominal numerals are not inflected. (No numeral agreement.)

AdNum=NCase: Adnominal numerals are inflected the same[5] as the nouns they modify. (Total numeral agreement.)

AdNumNonNCase: Adnominal numerals are inflected differently than the nouns they modify.[6] (Partial numeral agreement.)

When a language displays more than one type, multiple values can be listed. If one type is dominant, a slash (/) can separate the two values, with the dominant value appearing first; if neither is dominant, they are listed with an ampersand (&) separating the two. The listing of multiple values should be explained in the commentary.

 

[1] Any differences among numerals of lesser values and/or in non-oblique cases should be detailed in the commentary.

[2] For example, PronNum=Ncase&AdNumNoCase refers to a language in which independently used numerals display the same case inflection as nouns, whereas adnominal numerals, on the other hand, are not inflected.

[3] This refers to a shared case system, rather than to identical morphological forms.

[4] This should be detailed in the commentary.

[5] This refers to a shared case system, rather than to identical morphological forms.

[6] This should be explained in the commentary.