Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- en:grammar:numbers [2022-11-05 12:59] – [Cardinal and ordinal numbers] christian
+++ en:grammar:numbers [2023-02-07 12:34] (current) – [Cardinal and ordinal numbers] christian
@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 **siro** – zero\\
 **un** – one\\
-**aual** – first\\
+**aval** – first\\
 **do** – two\\
 **tri** – three\\
@@ Line 102: / Line 102: @@
 **abe des do** – the twelfth bird
-**Aual** is an alternative to **un** which is only used as ordinal (after nouns):
+**Aval** is an alternative to **un** which is only used as ordinal (after nouns):
-**monte aual / monte un** – the first mountain
+**monte aval / monte un** – the first mountain
-**aual** is only used standalone, never as a part of combined numbers:
+**Aval** is only used standalone, never as a part of combined numbers:
 **uma des un** – the eleventh horse
+//Rationale:// That ordinal numerals from 'two' upward are derived from cardinal numerals while a separate independent form is used for 'first', is the most typical pattern according to WALS (ch. 53). To keep things simple and regular we also allow using **un** as ordinal, but we add **aval** as independent synonym.
 TODO Also explain how fractions are formed (**-i** suffix), how numbers with a fractional part are expressed (likely using the dot as decimal separator), and how large numerals can be grouped (preferably uses spaces between groups of three?).