Sorta Plural
Is something sortal if it can be pluralized?
I am asking the question because I am a little confused on this point, and not for the purpose of offering an answer. I want to poll what you think. And which writers have addressed this issue and what are their theories?
Put another way, is the countability requirement of sortal satisfied by the ability to pluralize it, since plural usually indicates two or more of a kind?
Does the ability to pluralize something make it automatically countable?
I am asking the question because I am a little confused on this point, and not for the purpose of offering an answer. I want to poll what you think. And which writers have addressed this issue and what are their theories?
Put another way, is the countability requirement of sortal satisfied by the ability to pluralize it, since plural usually indicates two or more of a kind?
Does the ability to pluralize something make it automatically countable?
Comments (3)
I am not sure what the confusion is about 'pluralize'. Merriam Webster online dictionary gives a decent definition: "to make plural or express in the plural form." Thus to pluralize means to add a 's' to the end of the word (in English) making it plural form. The Google search dictionary adds: "cause to become more numerous." Merriam Webster online dictionary definition of plural: "relating to, consisting of, or containing more than one or more than one kind or class."
Thus, there is something that can be pluralized: Words can be given plural form. I don't know of any other somethings that can be pluralized, but words certainly can.
Merriam Webster online dictionary at something: 1a. some indeterminate or unspecified thing. 2. a person or thing of consequence.
Something about having to begin the discussion in this way feels like Bill Clinton's famous answer at deposition: "It depends on the what the meaning of is is."
Wikipedia has an article on Sortal: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sortal