(Udmurt)

Oth~FthThth

Oth~FthThth: Each ordinal numeral is derived, through the same pattern, from the root of the corresponding cardinal numeral, with the exception of the numeral ‘first,’ for which both a derived and suppletive form exists. This is also known as the “first/oneth, twoth, threeth” type.

1odig1stnyryś(-eti)/odig-eti
2kyk2ndkyk(t)-eti
3kuiń3rdkuiń(m)-eti
4ńyľ4thńyľ-eti
5viť5thviť-eti
11das odig11thdas odig-eti
21kyź odig21stkyź odig-eti
(1)nyryśkorkapyr-em.
firsthouse.ILLenterPST2.3SG
’He entered the first house .’ (Perevoshchikov et al. 1962: 162)

(2)so-lykykśot-em:odig-eti-jez...
3SGDATtwojobgivePST2.3SGoneORDDET
’He was given two tasks: the first...’ (Perevoshchikov et al. 1962: 162)

In Udmurt, ordinal numerals are derived by adding the suffix -eti/-jeti to the cardinal number. (The -jeti form is used in the presence of palatal consonants in the root. In case of the ordinals for ‘second’ and ‘third’, the allomorphs of the cardinals with -t and -m are also used.)

The ordinal for ‘first’ is not derived of the cardinal odig ‘one’, but the suppletive root nyryś- with the help of the usual derivational suffix, at times also without it (1). The odig-eti form is used in complex numerals (e.g. das odig-eti ‘eleventh’) (Winkler 2011: 79, Keľmakov – Hännikäinen 2008: 56–57).

In certain cases, the ordinal odig-eti, derived of the cardinal for ‘one’ in the regular way, can also be used to mean ‘first’ in non-complex numerals (2) (Perevoshchikov et al. 1962: 162). (For the occasional nominalizations of ordinal numerals see e.g. Perevoshchikov et al. 1962: 163.)

Author: Laura Horváth


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