Datapoint Early Sranan/Expression of nominal plural meaning

Plural is never marked morphologically on the noun itself.

There is a (non-obligatory) definite plural determiner (see also Feature 28 "Definite articles"); indefinite plurals are not marked at all.

The reduplication of nouns to express multitude is rare; it may be typical of the European variety (Bakratongo). Relatively more frequent is reduplication expressing a distributive plural.

Values

Plural word preceding the noun Frequency: 90.0%

Example 1-72:
Kaba dem fotto Ningre no jeri hem kwetikweti, na dem oure English plantasi dem habi hem.
Kaba
and
den
det.pl
foto
fort
Nengre
black
no
neg
yere
hear
en
3sg
kwetikweti,
really
na
loc
den
det.pl
owru
old
Ingris
English
pranasi
plantation
den
3pl
habi
have
en.
3sg
And the town blacks don't really know it, (but) on the old English plantations they say it.

Source: Schumann 1783: 21

Example 1-75:
Dem sa moessoe callie neem foe alla den hedieman foe dem condre.
Den
3pl
sa
fut
musu
must
kali
call
nen
name
fu
of
ala
all
den
det.pl
hedeman
head
fu
of
den
3pl/det.pl
kondre.
village
They will have to mention the names of all the captains of the/their villages.

Source: SPT 1762: 180

Confidence:
Very certain

Plural reduplication Frequency: 10.0%

Example 1-73:
Dasanni habi horro-horro.
Da-sani
det.sg-thing
habi
have
oro~oro.
hole.red
It has holes all over.
German: Das ist ganz durchlöchert. [op.cit.]

Source: Schumann 1783: 67

Example 1-74:
Dan mie dé soetoe na seysei, Boesieduyvie, Leguana ofoe Kauwrie na boon.
Dan
then
mi
1sg
de
asp
sutu
shoot
na
loc
seisei,
side.red
Busidoifi,
bushpidgeon
Legwana
iguana
ofu
or
Kawri
bird
na
loc
bon.
tree
Then I shoot bushpidgeons, iguanas, or jackdaws out of the trees on the sides (of the forest).
Dutch: Dan zo schoot ik aan de kanten wilde Duiven, Leguaanen of Kauwriers van de boomen. [op.cit.]

Source: Weygandt 1798: 139

Confidence:
Certain