Datapoint Santome/Ordinal numerals

The suppletive ordinal numerals corresponding to 'first', 'second' and 'third' are commonly used. As illustrated, there is an additional constructions that can be used to yield an ordinal interpretation.

Values

‘First’, ‘second’, or more are suppletive, the others are synchronically derived from cardinal numerals

Example 35-83:
plumê/plumêlu; segundu/sengundu; tlusêlu/tlêsêlu
plumê/plumêlu;
first
segundu/sengundu;
second
tlusêlu/tlêsêlu
third
first; second; third
Example 35-84:
Sun da plumê mina ũa bôbô, sun da sêgundu mina ũa bôbô, sun da tlêsêlu mina ũa bôbô.
Sun
man
da
give
plumê
first
mina
child
ũa
one
bôbô,
ripe.banana
sun
man
da
give
sêgundu
second
mina
child
ũa
one
bôbô,
ripe.banana
sun
man
da
give
tlêsêlu
third
mina
child
ũa
one
bôbô.
ripe.banana
The man gave the first child a ripe banana, the man gave the second child a ripe banana, the man gave the third child a ripe banana.
Example 35-85:
kabêsa xi ku ka fe dôzê
kabêsa
head
xi
dem
ku
rel
ka
ipfv
fe
do
dôzê
twelve
the twelfth head
Confidence:
Very certain