Journal of Universal Language
Sejong University Language Research Institue
Article
A Parallel between Countability and Atomicity
Eun-joo Kwak1
Published Online: Jan 01, 2017
Abstract
The general notion of countability is that count nouns are pluralized and denote atomic entities while mass nouns are used only in singular forms and denote non-atomic entities. However, diverse linguistic data show that the correlation between countability and plurality is not tenable. In this study, challenges to the classical view are reviewed. Pointing out problems with the challenges, I argue that countability and atomicity are correlated.
Keywords: countability; atomicity; plurality; count nouns; mass nouns
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