Pluralallomorphie in zehn germanischen Sprachen: Konvergenzen und Divergenzen in Ausdrucksverfahren und Konditionierung. (Plural allomorphy in ten Germanic languages - parallels and divergencies in exponence and conditioning)

Kurzfassung/Abstract

This article compares the noun plural systems of ten Germanic languages focusing on the number of allomorphs, their formal shape and the assignment principles used for allomorph distribution. It further aims at identifying the interrelating factors, categories, and features decisive for the very different ways in which plural allomorphy is organized in languages of the same origin. The major relevant factors are pointed out with special emphasis on the role of gender, semantic and rhythmic assignment, and the role of high token frequency. On formal grounds, the fusion vs. separation of case and number as well as the role of zero morphology vs. redundant marking, of stem alternation and the direction of influence between stem and affix are discussed.