The declension of numerals two, both, three and four in kajkavian legal texts from 16th to 18th century

Abstract

In this paper the authors discuss some interesting facts about the declension of the numerals two, both, three and four in Kajkavian legal texts from the 16th to 18th century. The language analysis is based on eighty two Kajkavian legal texts (23 from the 16th, 40 from the 17th, and 19 from the 18th century). Special attention has been paid to the question of the relation between plural and dual in the declension of the numerals two and both, as well as to the development of the plural in the declension of the numerals three and four. All recorded forms of the numerals two, both, three and four are given for all cases and their appearance is compared between different time periods. Number declension also is examined in prepositional phrases. At the end of the paper the frequency of the nondeclinable forms of the numerals two, both, three and four is given.

Keywords

• numerals
• Kajkavian
• two
• both
• three
• four