This parameter considers the strategies that languages employ to mark plurality on personal pronouns (PP).[1] In terms of typological classification, PPs are considered to be independent pronouns that can serve as a subject. (Such a word class is not present in all languages.) All three persons should be taken into consideration. A number of other restrictions may also apply.[2]
Types:
NoPP: The language has no independent PPs capable of referring to the subject.
PPIndiffNum: PPs can only express person, not number.[3]
NeutrPPSyntAff: PPs have neutral pronominal stems[4] and use synthetic affixation (i.e., the morphological expression of number and person occurs simultaneously).
SyntPP: PPs have a synthetic stem (i.e., the morphological expression of number and person occurs simultaneously), and the expression of different numbers within the same person does not display internal flexion.[5]
SyntFlexPP: PPs have a synthetic stem (i.e., the morphological expression of number and person occurs simultaneously), and the expression of different numbers within the same person displays internal flexion.
SyntPPSpecAff: PPs have a synthetic stem (i.e., the morphological expression of number and person occurs simultaneously) and use a special pronominal plurality marker.
SyntPPNonspecAff: PPs have a synthetic stem (i.e., the morphological expression of number and person occurs simultaneously) and use a general (nominal) plurality marker.
PersPPSpecAff: PPs use the same stem for variants within a given person, as well as a special pronominal plurality marker.
PersPPNonspecAff: PPs use the same stem for variants within a given person, as well as a general (nominal) plurality marker.
Dupl: Formation of a plural PP involves the complete or partial reduplication of the corresponding singular PP.
Ton: The plural PP is distinguished from its corresponding singular PP only by a tonal distinction.
When a language displays more than one type of marking, two values can be listed. If one type is dominant, [6] a slash (/) can separate the two values, with the dominant value appearing first; if neither is dominant, the two are listed with an ampersand (&) separating the two.
[1] Other non-singular numbers (dual, trial, paucal) are not considered in this parameter.
[2] Other restrictions should be detailed in the commentary. These may include a split system, in which the PP constitutes a different type in oblique cases than it does in nominative. If this occurs, only the nominative should be considered. Another possibility is for multiple variants of PPs, such as formal and familiar, to exist within the same person and number. In such cases, the least marked form should be considered.
[3] Number is determined based on contextual or pragmatic cues.
[4] The stem makes it clear that the word is a PP, without specifying of person or number.
[5] As always, languages should be considered from a synchronic perspective.
[6] For example, if the parameter values for either two of the grammatical persons are the same as opposed to the different value for the further one.