1887
Volume 31, Issue 1
  • ISSN 0920-9034
  • E-ISSN: 1569-9870
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Abstract

In this paper, we examine mass and count in Michif, a language often called a , which has elements from French (and English) and Cree (and Ojibwe). French has an obvious grammatical mass/count distinction (Doetjes 1997); Cree does not. Michif could therefore display a mass/count distinction, like French, or look like it lacks one, like Cree. In fact, the system is mixed (contra Croft 2003: 58): French-derived nominals display an obvious mass/count distinction and the Cree-derived nominals do not. Number, numerals and quantifiers disambiguate within the French-derived part of the grammar but do not in the Cree-derived part. Michif has inherited both the French system and the Cree system, reflected in the behaviour of the nominals.

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2016-01-01
2024-12-03
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/content/journals/10.1075/jpcl.31.1.05gil
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  • Article Type: Research Article
Keyword(s): mass/count distinction; Michif; mixed languages; nominals
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