Encyclopedia of Ancient Greek Language and Linguistics

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Number
(1,961 words)

Abstract

The use of grammatical number is here analyzed in different varieties of Ancient Greek. It is shown how the selection of a singular or plural form not only depends on the quantity of the denoted referents, but is also sensitive to various semantic and pragmatic factors. Particular attention is devoted to the interaction among number, agreement, animacy and gender.

The number system in Ancient Greek includes a singular, a dual and a plural number (arithmòs henikós, duïkós, plēthuntikós), which differ for both nominal and verbal c…

Cite this page
Carlotta Viti, “Number”, in: Encyclopedia of Ancient Greek Language and Linguistics, General Editor: Georgios K. Giannakis. Consulted online on 23 March 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2214-448X_eagll_COM_00000255>
First published online: 2013



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