Категориалност и некатегориалност в системата на руските числителни имена
Categoriality and Non-categoriality in the System of Russian Numerals

In Comparision with Bulgarian

Summary/Abstract: Few Indo-European languages categorize numerals as an independent part of speech. In all languages numerals are used to indicate the same extralinguistic quantity although in theoretical linguistics, researchers still argue for their correct classification. The aim of this paper is to take a closer look at some of the problems related to the categorical and non-categorial meanings of numerals in Russian and Bulgarian. The lexical peculiarity of the part of speech under study is intertwined with the functioning of the grammatical categories of case, number and gender. Although from a morphological point of view the grammatical categories are represented very sparsely, the available forms are characterized by exceptional originality and comprehensive-ness, which is a further attestation to the connection between categoriality and non-categoriality. The analysis gives grounds to believe that numerals are the only part of speech in which non-categorial manifestations exceed categorial ones, which is a reason for further research within this class of words.

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