Re: Re[2]: [tied] Re: Middle English Plurals

Brian:

> * A language with a single, uniform plural formation is
> fitter than one with multiple plural formations.
>
> * If one of two competing varieties has some simple
> distinguishing characteristic (e.g., uniform plural in
> <-es>), speakers of the other will bend over backwards
> to avoid that characteristic (e.g., by maintaining a
> variety of plural formations).

I wouldn't pay heed to his shiboleth theories. Besides,
it's not as if English has adopted a single plural suffix
either. We have many pluralen.. or is it plurali? In fact,
I think I'm going to make my own tribe right now and
will only allow people to join if they reject the s-plural
and accept -yonk as the true plural of the new order.


= gLeN

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