Valores de la categoría de número en las lenguas eslavas: evolución histórica y caracterización actual

Abstract

Among Slavonic languages, number emerges as a nominal feature, whose morphological paradigm retains many of the archaic attributes which previously characterized Protoindoeuropean. As Slavonic languages developed, number also evolved: former values of this feature (singular, dual, plural) tended to reduce, as far as dual disappeared or became transformed. Nevertheless, a hypothetical paucal, proposed for some Slavonic languages, should be avoided, as it caunot be empluyed to denote (individualised) groups composed by few elements (in opposition lo plural). Tina pseudo-paucal should be more properly described as a morphological vestige of mi ancient dual, which is at present restrictively associated to a few numerals.