'One and twenty' etc. in German and Slavic languages Cover Image
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‘Ein-und-zwanzig’ usw. im Deutschen und im Slawischen
'One and twenty' etc. in German and Slavic languages

Author(s): László Honti
Subject(s): Theoretical Linguistics, Phonetics / Phonology, Comparative Linguistics, Philology
Published by: Akadémiai Kiadó
Keywords: language contact; numeral structure; German; Slovenian; Slavonic languages;

Summary/Abstract: In the third and higher tens in certain Slavonic languages, e. g. in Slovenian and in Czech, ones are also expressed with the help of the structure used in German (e. g. ein-undzwanzig), e. g. Slovenian ena-in-dvajset ‘21’ (~ dvajset ena ‘21’). Many scholars categorically explained it by the influence of the German language on the neighbouring Slavonic languages. The author doubts this point of view and demonstrates that in large parts of the Slavonic language area (a) apart from the common (dominant) “ten ' one” structure, among others, the “ten & one” structure does exist, (b) furthermore, “one & ten” is also found in Ukrainian dialects. Therefore, the structure corresponding to the one preferred in German could not be unknown in earlier stages of development of Slavonic languages, though as a result of German–Slavonic contacts, German as a language of high prestige in the borderland might contribute to the spread of the structure “one & ten” to some extent.

  • Issue Year: 56/2011
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 81-91
  • Page Count: 11
  • Language: German