Les numéraux en BCMS (bosniaque-croatemonténégrin- serbe) : norme et usage, formes concurrentes et stratégies des locuteurs Numerals in BCMS (Bosnian-Croatian-Montenegrin-Serbian) Language : Norm and Usage, Concurrent Forms and Speakers’ Strategies

摘要

Numerals in BCMS (Bosnian-Croatian-Montenegrin-Serbian) Language Norm and Usage, Concurrent Forms and Speakers’ Strategies The paper deals with conflicts between norm and usage for BCMS numerals, which present difficulties not only for learners of BCMS, but also for native speakers. The four standard languages may accept several constructions, sometimes with semantic or stylistic differences, whereas the norm rejects some other constructions, although used by native speakers. Dialectal usage and regional differences make the situation even more complicated. The choice of the numeral depends on the noun following it : neuter singular collective numerals or cardinal numerals for mixed (male and female) groups and collective nouns ; adjectival collective numerals, cardinal numerals or neuter singular collective numerals for pluralia tantum and nouns denoting things which occur in pairs (the noun pair may be used too, and also for pluralia tantum such as pantalone ‘ trousers’, makaze ‘ scissors’…) ; numeral nouns ending in -ica, cardinal numerals or neuter singular collective numerals for groups of men. The declension of numerals is on the decline in modern language, hence concurrent declined (elevated, somewhat archaic) forms and not declined (more colloquial) forms, and analytical constructions (sa tri prsta ‘ with three fingers’) in BCMS syncretical language. Some sentences (like ‘ She gave money to her seven children’) cannot be translated word for word into BCMS.