Routledge Dictionary of Language and Linguistics
Subcategory of number of nouns and verbs which usually serves to indicate the presence of more than one element, but which can also have an individualizing function with certain common nouns (rock: rocks) and collective nouns (people: peoples). There are also plural-only nouns (scissors, (eye) glasses, the Alps). In English, most plurals are formed by adding -(e)s (cats, dogs, bosses); other types of plural formation include foreign suffixes (phenomenon: phenomena) and changes in the stem (mouse: mice). (
also mutation)
References
Greenberg, J. 1974. Numeral classifiers and substantial number: problems in the genesis of a linguistic type. PICL 11.
17–37.
Link, G. 1983. The logical analysis of plurals and mass terms. In R.Bäuerle et al. (eds). Meaning, use and interpretation. Berlin and New York.
Schein, B. 1993. Plurals and events. Cambridge, MA.
Unterbeck, B. 1993. Kollektion, Numeralklassifikation und Transnumerus. Frankfurt-on-Main.
This is the complete article, containing 140 words
(approx. 1 page at 300 words per page).
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