(Meadow Mari)

NoDN / Dupl(DN)(N)

NoDN: Distributive numerals do not exist in the language.

Dupl(DN)(N): Reduplication of the stem can only occur within nominal heads.

(1)mišakumludə-mpušt-ən.
MishathreeduckACCshootPST2.3SG
’Misha shot three ducks.’ (N. I.)

(2)mišadensašakumludodenepušt-ən-ət.
MishaandSashathreeduckwithshootPST23PL
’Misha and Sasha shot three ducks each.’ (N. I.)

(3)mišadensašakum-kumludodenepušt-ən-ət.
MishaandSashathreethreeduckwithshootPST23PL
’Misha and Sasha shot three ducks each.’ (N. I.)

(4)korobka-škevičkurčak denepəšt-ena.
boxILLfivedollwithput1PL
’We put five dolls into each box.’ (N. I.)

Meadow Mari uses the postposition dene ‘with’ to form distributive numeral constructions. It is placed after the noun and not the numeral (2)–(4), so the distributive numeral cannot be distinguished within the category of numerals. The numeral can optionally reduplicate (3), but it is not needed to express distributivity (cf. (2)).

Author: Bogáta Timár


[🠐 back]