Constructive Number Systems in Marori and Beyond

Abstract

This paper examines complex number systems with unusual constructive strategies in languages such as Marori. One challenge that such systems present is the existence of a dual number category without dual morphology and a plural number category without plural morphology. This paper demonstrates that these number systems can be accounted for in a surprisingly straightforward way by proposing that they involve the composite binary features [+/-SG], [+/-PL], [+/-DU] and [+/-AUG]. Languages vary with respect to which features are activated and the nature of their composition and coding. This study highlights the significance of constructive number systems within the broader context of a unificationbased theory of grammar as well as the theory and typology of agreement. Show more