Means of expressing continuous multiplicity in Arabic and Polish

Król, Iwona

doi:10.17651/POLON.35.18

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Tytuł: Means of expressing continuous multiplicity in Arabic and Polish

Abstrakt:

This paper discusses nouns serving as means of expressing continuous multiplicity in Arabic and Polish. In both languages the following categories of names serve this purpose: word-formative category of collective nouns (nomina collectiva), names of sets which are separate lexemes (not derivatives), plurale tantum nouns. The most important similarities occurring in both languages are: the categories of collective nouns (except for Arabic personal nouns) and of names of sets being separate lexemes have similar characteristics; most collective nouns and plurale tantum nouns denoting substances are subject to partitive quantification. Differences are: plurale tantum nouns have different meanings and usages; Arabic personal collective nouns are subject to numerical quantification.