On the category and morphosyntax of numerals

Author(s):
Morozova, I. Barbiers, L.C.J.
Published
2025
Publication type
Article / Letter to editor

Abstract

This paper investigates the morphosyntax of numerals. Based on Russian and Dutch, we show that a division into three subcategories is necessary: (i) numeral ONE; (ii) Cardinals ³ TWO; (iii) Indefinite Numerals such as MANY (cf., Barbiers 2007). We introduce a bi-partite structure, in which a low Classifier projection is connected to a high Classifier projection by an (abstract) preposition. Building on Borer (2005), Barbiers (2007), Kayne (2019), Corver (2021) we argue that ONE is an underspecified lower classifier, exhibiting meaningful parallels with the underspecified anchoring head at the clausal level (cf., Ritter & Wiltschko 2009, 2014). Cardinals are phrasal. Indefinite Numerals are subject to variation in whether they head ClassP-low or ClassP-high. Based on the morphosyntactic properties of the three categories we conclude that in some environments the PP and ClassP-high layers are not projected.

With capital letters we refer to concepts, and not language specific realisations.

CardinalsONEClassifiersIndefinite NumeralsRussianDutchHebrewComparative syntax
Date issued
2025-08-29
Language
English
Is part of
Linguistic Variation
Advanced publication
Yes
hdl
1887/4259892
doi
10.1075/lv.24047.mor
URL
https://benjamins.com/catalog/lv.24047.mor