Some languages use a special form of the noun, a “numerative”, after some or all numerals. In such languages, a distinct numerative is typically not available for all nouns, but rather only for a small subset, forming a morphological “minor category” (Corbett 2000). We examine how such a system emerges and disintegrates diachronically, looking in detail at Welsh, a language in which a distinct numerative emerged as the result of the phonological attrition of plural suffixes and analogical extension of new plural suffixes to all relevant syntactic environments except after numerals. Nouns with distinct numeratives tend to be animate and to denote units frequently counted, an association previously noted also for minor duals (Plank 1996). We suggest that this association arose in Welsh via differential analogical extension in two directions: animates resisted analogical extension of the pattern numeral + singular noun; and animates were most receptive to extension of the pattern numeral + numerative. We show that the loss of the numerative proceeded the same way in reverse: numeratives were first reanalyzed as special plurals, and this pattern, numeral + plural noun, resisted analogical spread of the dominant numeral + singular pattern most robustly with kinship terms and a unit of time, namely ‘year’. These developments show much commonality with other cases where the diachrony of the numerative is known, confirming the observation that numeratives typically emerge from the disintegration of a major category, such as plural or dual, and that they are diachronically unstable, liable ultimately to analogical elimination.
Corpws Hanesyddol yr Iaith Gymraeg 1500–1850: A Historical Corpus of the Welsh Language 1500–1850 ed. by David Willis & Ingo Mittendorf. Cambridge: Department of Linguistics, University of Cambridge, 2004. Available online at [URL].
Early English Books Online. Text Creation Partnership, 2003–2015. Available online at [URL].
Eighteenth Century Collection Online. Text Creation Partnership, 2015. Available online at [URL].
Rhyddiaith y 15eg Ganrif: Fersiwn 1.0 ed. by Richard Glyn Roberts, Sarah Rowles, & Patrick Sims-Williams. Aberystwyth: Department of Welsh, Aberystwyth University, 2015. Available online at [URL]. [15th-century prose corpus, 15c]
Rhyddiaith Gymraeg o Lawysgrifau’r 13eg Ganrif: Fersiwn 2.0 ed. by G. R. Isaac, Simon Rodway, Silva Nurmio, Kit Kapphahn, & Patrick Sims-Williams. Aberystwyth: Department of Welsh, Aberystwyth University, 2013. Available online at [URL]. [13th-century prose corpus, 13c]
Rhyddiaith Gymraeg 1300–1425: Welsh Prose 1300–1425 ed. by Peter Wynn Thomas, D. Mark Smith, & Diana Luft. Cardiff: Cardiff University, 2007–2013. Available online at [URL]. [14c].
Other primary texts
Andrews, Rhian M.et al., eds. 1996. Gwaith Bleddyn Fardd a Beirdd Eraill Ail Hanner y Drydedd Ganrif ar Ddeg (Cyfres Beirdd y Tywysogion 7). Cardiff: University of Wales Press.
Bramley, Kathleen Anneet al.., eds. 1994. Gwaith Llywelyn Fardd I ac Eraill o Feirdd y Ddeuddegfed Ganrif (Cyfres Beirdd y Tywysogion 2). Cardiff: University of Wales Press.
Bromwich, Rachel & D. Simon Evans, eds. 1997. Culhwch ac Olwen: An Edition and Study of the Oldest Arthurian Tale. Cardiff: University of Wales Press.
Costigan, N. G.et al., eds. 1995. Gwaith Dafydd Benfras ac Eraill o Feirdd Hanner Cyntaf y Drydedd Ganrif ar Ddeg (Cyfres Beirdd y Tywysogion 6). Cardiff: University of Wales Press.
Daniel, R. Iestyn, ed. 1995. Ymborth yr Enaid. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. [Ymborth]
Haycock, Marged, ed. 2007. Legendary Poems from the Book of Taliesin. Aberystwyth: CMCS Publications. [LPBT]
Jarman, A. O. H., ed. 1982. Llyfr Du Caerfyrddin. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. [LlDC]
Jones, Nerys Ann & Ann Parry Owen, eds. 1991–1995. Gwaith Cynddelw Brydydd Mawr, 2 Vols.1 (Cyfres Beirdd y Tywysogion 3–4). Cardiff: University of Wales Press.
Jones, Elin M. & Nerys Ann Jones, eds. 1991. Gwaith Llywarch ap Llywelyn: ‘Prydydd y Moch’ (Cyfres Beirdd y Tywysogion 5). Cardiff: University of Wales Press.
Jones, Evan John, ed. 1945. Buchedd Sant Martin. Cardiff: University of Wales Press.
Jones, Thomas, ed. 1936. Cyssegredic Historia Severws Swlpisiws. Bulletin of the Board of Celtic Studies 81.107–120. [CHSS]
Jones, Thomas, ed. 1956. Rhyddiaith Gymraeg, Vol. II1, 1547–1618. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. [RhG]
Jones, Thomas, ed. 1960. Disgrifiad Elis Gruffudd o’r Cynadleddau a fu rhwng Harri VIII a’r Ymherodr Siarl V a rhyngddo a Ffranses I, Brenin Ffrainc, yn 1520. Bulletin of the Board of Celtic Studies 181.311–337. [DEG]
Parry, J. J., ed. 1937. Brut y Brenhinedd: Cotton Cleopatra Version. Cambridge, MA: The Mediaeval Academy of America.
Rowland, Jenny, ed. 1990. Early Welsh Saga Poetry: A Study and Edition of the Englynion. Cambridge: D.S. Brewer. [EWSP]
Smith, D. Mark, ed. 2002. Treigl y Marchog Crwydrad. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. [TMC]
Williams, J. E. Caerwyn, ed. 1994. Gwaith Meilyr Brydydd a’i Ddisgynyddion (Cyfres Beirdd y Tywysogion 1). Cardiff: University of Wales Press.
Williams, Ifor, ed. 1961. Canu Aneirin. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. [CA]
Williams, Ifor & J. E. Caerwyn Williams, eds. 1968. The Poems of Taliesin. Dublin: Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies.
Williams, Patricia, ed. 2000. Gesta romanorum. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. [GR]
Williams, Patricia, ed. 1982. Kedymdeithyas Amlyn ac Amic. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. [KAA]
Williams, Stephen J., ed. 1929. Ffordd y Brawd Odrig. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. [FfBO]
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