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Article published In: A typology of the mass/count distinction in Brazil and its relevance for mass/count theories
Edited by Suzi Oliveira de Lima and Susan Rothstein
[Linguistic Variation 20:2] 2020
► pp. 174–218

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A typology of the mass/count distinction in Brazil and its relevance for mass/count theories

 | University of Toronto
 | Bar Ilan University
Published online: 1 October 2020
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/lv.00015.lim
Abstract
While much work has been done on the description of the mass/count distinction in different geographical areas, Brazilian Indigenous languages are still highly underrepresented in the field. This paper presents the results of a project that involved researchers describing the mass/count distinction in 15 Brazilian Indigenous languages, based on a questionnaire we prepared in 2016 in order to explore the distribution of bare nouns, plurals, numerals, and quantifiers (see Appendix). Three main observations will be drawn. First, number marking and countability are independent. Second, counting is not restricted to natural atoms. Third, since there seems to be no systematic symmetry in the distribution of plurals, numerals, and quantifiers, we argue that the standard diagnostics for countable vs. non-countable nouns are highly language-specific.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.A questionnaire on the mass/count distinction
  • 3.Results: The mass/count distinction in Brazilian Indigenous languages
    • 3.1Introduction
    • 3.2An overview of a preliminary typology of mass/count in Brazil
      • 3.2.1Large families (stocks): Macro-Jê and Tupi languages
        • Macro-Jê
          • Bare arguments
          • Plurals
          • Numerals
          • Quantifiers
        • Tupi languages
          • Bare arguments
          • Plurals
          • Numerals
          • Quantifiers
      • 3.2.2Large size families: Arawak (Aruák, Maipure) and Carib (Karib)
        • Arawak
          • Bare arguments
          • Plurals
          • Numerals and quantifiers
        • Carib
          • Bare arguments
          • Plurals
          • Numerals
          • Quantifiers
      • 3.2.3Medium size families: Nadahup
      • 3.2.4Small language families: Guaicuru
      • 3.2.5Isolate languages: Guató
      • 3.2.6Revitalized languages: Patxohã
    • 3.3Summary
  • 4.Implications of Brazilian languages for the typology of mass/count contrasts
  • 5.Final considerations
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • References
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