Distributive Numerals (Feature 34)

From Apics

Feature Annotation

Distributive numerals are special adnominal numerals that express distributive relations as in German Die Männer trugen je drei Koffer. ‘The men carried three suitcases each.’ English lacks distributive numerals, because in a sentence like They carried three suitcases each, the numeral does not form a continuous constituent with the distributive word each, i.e. three...each does not qualify as a numeral. Structures such as three by three in They carried the suitcases three by three are disregarded because they are not adnominal numerals.
Note that it is not important here whether a distributive numeral construction is used always, often or rarely. In many languages, distributive numerals are not obligatory when a distributive sense is intended, and are used only if clarification is needed.
If your language has more than one kind of special distributive numerals, you may choose several values.

Additional remarks

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Values

Value		Value Annotation
1	The language has no special distributive numerals at all
2	Marked by reduplication	(total or partial reduplication:) Tok Pisin tripela taim long wanpelawanpela yia [three time in one one year] 'three times each year’. Principense N da dôsu ningê tê-têêxi kwa. [1SG give two person three-three thing] 'I gave two people three things each.'
3	Marked by prefix	Tongan taki-tolu [distr-three] ’three each’
4	Marked by suffix	Maricopa xmok-xper [three-distr] ’three each’
5	Marked by preceding word	German je drei, [distr three] ’three each’
6	Marked by following word	Malagasy telo avy [three distr] ’three each’

WALS No.

54 (Total)