Authors:
Jean Sibille
Abstract:
In standard romance languages, systems of plural marking are relatively simple. But some vernacular romance varieties show complex systems, using, in the same variety, several marking processes of different nature. In the variety studied here, nouns are divided into 10 categories : a category of invariable nouns and nine categories in which plural can be marked, either by an alternating vocalic suffix (/vˈaʃɔ/ 'cow', pl. /vˈaʃɛ/), by vocalic lengthening (/pra/ 'meadow', pl. /praː/, or by internal flexion (/ʃa'pal/ 'hat', pl. /ʃapˈɛju (...)
In standard romance languages, systems of plural marking are relatively simple. But some vernacular romance varieties show complex systems, using, in the same variety, several marking processes of different nature. In the variety studied here, nouns are divided into 10 categories : a category of invariable nouns and nine categories in which plural can be marked, either by an alternating vocalic suffix (/vˈaʃɔ/ 'cow', pl. /vˈaʃɛ/), by vocalic lengthening (/pra/ 'meadow', pl. /praː/, or by internal flexion (/ʃa'pal/ 'hat', pl. /ʃapˈɛju/). In some geographically and linguistically related varieties, marking by a morpheme -/s/ attached to the stem also have to be added. Study of plural marking systems in non standard romance varieties could contribute to a better understanding of how phonological, morphological and syntactic constraints interact.
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