Typology of number systems in languages of Western and Central Siberia

This paper investigates the linguistic expression of number in seven languages
from Western and Central Siberia. In a first step the number system of each
language is described in detail, and afterwards the most relevant convergences
and divergences of the languages are dealt with. Three particularly interesting
phenomena are discussed in more detail: First, it is shown that the concept of
general number, denoting noun forms underspecified for number, is able to
account for a range of related phenomena (unmarked noun forms after numerals,
nouns denoting paired objects). Second, singulatives in Selkup, Ket
and partly Eastern Khanty are analyzed, whereby it is argued that their similar
morphosyntactic and grammaticalization patterns allow for analyzing
them as a contact phenomenon. Third, two splits on the animacy hierarchy
between the first and second person in Dolgan as well as Chulym Turkic are
presented. Finally, the results are evaluated against a broader areal-typological
background, whereby it is shown that the category of number does not
support any larger areal groupings within Western and Central Siberia, but
that the analyzed languages rather adhere to patterns of number marking present
all over Northern Eurasia.