Datapoint Sango/Occurrence of nominal plural markers

The semantics and use of the plural marker need more study. I would say that it does not mark just plurality (viz. more than one) but distribution (here and there).

There has definitely been a change since the 1950s. Whereas nonanimates were not (or rarely) pluralized, they are much more frequently, perhaps under the influence of French. Even the demonstrative so 'this' is now pluralized to mean 'these' but perhaps not in all contexts.

Since about the 1970s the plural marker occurs on some or all of the adjectives in a noun phrase. See Samarin (1994).

Values

Variable plural marking of human or inanimate nouns

Example 59-83:
azo ake mingi
a-zo
pl-person
a-ke
pm-cop
mingi
many
There are a lot of people.
Example 59-84:
akete amelenge ti awali
a-kete
pl-small
a-melenge
pl-child
ti
of
a-wali
pl-female
young girls
Example 59-85:
amapa, anyama, anyen'
a-mapa,
pl-bread
a-nyama,
pl-meat
a-nyen'
pl-what
bread, meat, whatever...
Example 59-86:
lo sara agozo, lo sara ayi ti gongo na ni
lo
3sg
sara
make
a-gozo,
pl-manioc
lo
3sg
sara
make
a-yi
pl-thing
ti
of
gwengo
going
na
prep
ni
det
She prepared manioc and things, she prepared things to take.

Source: nd

Confidence:
Very certain