Numerals in the Transeurasian languages

Abstract

This chapter presents all relevant forms of the cardinal numerals 1‒10, 20‒90, 100, and sometimes also teens and ordinals, in all described Transeurasian languages. Besides all modern languages, where maximum accuracy in transcription is preferred, the old literary and epigraphic languages (Orkhon Runic, Old Uyghur, Karakhanid, Old Oghuz, Chaghatai; Middle Mongol, Written Mongol; Jurchen, Manchu; Middle Korean; Old and Classic Japanese), are also analyzed, including some relic languages known only fragmentarily (Kuman, Old Bulgar; Kitan; Baekje, Silla; Koguryo). On the basis of regular phonetic correspondences the related forms are projected into the partial daughter protolanguages: Turkic, Mongolic, Tungusic, and Korean. Instead of Proto-Japonic, the Old Japanese forms serve for this purpose. Applying the comparative etymological method to the final comparison between these partial protolanguages should lead to identification of inherited cognates from borrowings in agreement with phonetic rules, semantic typology, and in the perspective of possible influences of hypothetical substrata, adstrata, and superstrata.