Abstract
AbstractThis paper provides a diachronic typology of what we call ‘heterogeneous plurals’, an overarching term comprising associative plurals (expressions meaning X[person]& company) and similative plurals (expressions meaning X and similar entities). Based on a 110-language sample, we identify the most recurrent sources of these two types of plurals by means of various types of evidence (homophony/identity, internal reconstruction, comparison with cognate languages). The two types of plurals develop out of different source types: while the sources of associative plurals include elements that work as set constructors (plural anaphoric elements, plural possessives, names meaning ‘group’), those of similative plurals comprise elements with vague reference such as interrogative/indefinite items or uncertainty markers. There are also a few source types that may develop into both associative and similative plurals, such as connectives (‘and/with’) and universal quantifiers (‘every/all’). The differences in the diachronic pathways leading to the two types of plurals are explained in terms of the different referential properties of the nominal bases from which they are formed (proper names/kin terms vs. common nouns), but also taking into account the typical discourse contexts in which the two types of plurals are employed.
Highlights
This paper provides a diachronic typology of what we call ‘heterogeneous plurals’, an overarching term comprising associative plurals and similative plurals
This paper aims to provide a diachronic typology of two constructions that are generally labeled associative and similative plurals, the former typically limited to proper names and kin terms (‘X and company/friends/family’), the latter generally possible with animate and inanimate referents (‘X and similar entities’)
Based on a 110-language sample, we discuss to what extent the differences observed between the diachronic sources for associative and similative plurals reflect the semantic differences between the two typical referent types that form these two constructions, namely proper names/kin terms on the one hand, and common nouns on the other
Summary
This paper aims to provide a diachronic typology of two constructions that are generally labeled associative and similative plurals, the former typically limited to proper names and kin terms (‘X and company/friends/family’), the latter generally possible with animate and inanimate referents (‘X and similar entities’). These two construction types have been described and discussed mainly in terms of their difference with respect to ordinary plurals (Cinque 2018; Corbett 2000: 107–110; Corbett and Mithun 1996; Daniel and Moravcsik 2013; Moravcsik 2003 among others), but little, if anything, has been said about the diachronic paths leading to their emergence.
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