The rise and fall of a minor category

Some languages use a special form of the noun, a “numerative”, after some or all numerals. In such languages, a distinct numerative is typically not available for all nouns, but rather only for a small subset, forming a morphological “minor category” (Corbett 2000). We examine how such a system emerges and disintegrates diachronically, looking in detail at Welsh, a language in which a distinct numerative emerged as the result of the phonological attrition of plural suffixes and analogical extension of new plural suffixes to all relevant syntactic environments except after numerals. Nouns with distinct numeratives tend to be animate and to denote units frequently counted, an association previously noted also for minor duals (Plank 1996). We suggest that this association arose in Welsh via differential analogical extension in two directions: animates resisted analogical extension of the pattern numeral + singular noun; and animates were most receptive to extension of the pattern numeral + numerative. We show that the loss of the numerative proceeded the same way in reverse: numeratives were first reanalyzed as special plurals, and this pattern, numeral + plural noun, resisted analogical spread of the dominant numeral + singular pattern most robustly with kinship terms and a unit of time, namely ‘year’. These developments show much commonality with other cases where the diachrony of the numerative is known, confirming the observation that numeratives typically emerge from the disintegration of a major category, such as plural or dual, and that they are diachronically unstable, liable ultimately to analogical elimination.This is the author accepted manuscript. It is currently under an indefinite embargo pending publication by John Benjamins Publishing Company

A detailed protocol for a rapid analysis of testicular cell populations using flow cytometry

Accurate analysis and quantification of different testicular cell populations are of central importance in studies of male reproductive biology. The traditional histomorphometric and immunohistochemical methods remain the gold standard in studying the complex dynamics of the testicular tissue. Through past years advances have been made in the application of flow cytometry for the rapid analysis of testicular cell populations. Detection of DNA content and of surface antigens and fluorescent reporters have been widely used to analyze and sort cells. Detection of intracellular antigens can broaden the possibilities of applying flow cytometry in studies of male reproduction. Here, we report a detailed protocol for the preparation of rat testicular tissue for detection of intracellular antigens by flow cytometry, and a pipeline for subsequent data analysis and troubleshooting. Rat testicular ontogenesis was chosen as the experimental model to validate the performance of the assay using vimentin and gamma H2AX as intracellular markers for the somatic and spermatogenic cells, respectively. The results show that the assay is reproducible and recapitulates the rat testis ontogenesis.Peer reviewe

The development and typology of number suppletion in adjectives

This paper looks at the cross-linguistically rare phenomenon of suppletion in number in adjectives. I consider how such suppletion arises by looking at six known examples with a special focus on the Brittonic languages (Breton, Cornish and Welsh) which are discussed as an extended case study. Three generalisations are suggested on the basis of the typological study. First, adjectives denoting size (“small” and “big”) are at the centre of this phenomenon. Second, where the etymology of the adjectives is known, the plural member of the suppletive pair for “small” develops from a lexeme denoting something having been divided into or consisting of small parts. These lexemes can also be used with some singular nouns and in such cases their reference is to the component structure of the referent. Finally, adjectives with number suppletion tend to mark plural number consistently in environments in which plural marking is otherwise optional or rare

Collective nouns in Welsh: a noun category or a plural allomorph?

A noun category in Welsh which has a shorter form for a collection/plural meaning and a suffixed singulative for a single instance has been described in the literature as both a number category and a plural allomorph, often with terminological ambiguity and blurring of boundaries between different noun types. This paper is an investigation of the features of these nouns using a number of theoretical approaches which cumulatively support the argument that collective can be considered a full number category in Welsh

Derivational networks in Welsh

Peer reviewe

Cancer therapy-related toxicity in the immature testis

Infertility is a common late effect of childhood cancer treatment. Testicular toxicity can clinically be first detected after the onset of pubertal maturation of the patients when the testis does not grow, spermatogenesis does not initiate and serum levels of gonadotrophins rise. Improved prognosis for childhood cancer has resulted in a growing number of childhood cancer survivors with late effects. In our study, we developed novel tools for detecting cancer therapy-related testicular toxicity during development. By using these methods the effects of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib mesylate, chemotherapy agent doxorubicin and irradiation on testicular development were investigated in rat and monkey. Patients with chronic myeloid leukemia and some patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia have fusion gene BCR-ABL which codes for abnormal tyrosine kinase protein. Imatinib mesylate (Glivec®) inhibits activity of this protein. In addition, imatinib inhibits the action of the c-kit and PDGF –receptors, which are both important for the survival and proliferation of the spermatogonial stem cell pool. Imatinib exposure during prepubertal development disturbed the development and the growth of the testis. Spermatogonial stem cells were also sensitive to the toxic effects of doxorubicin and irradiation during the initiation phase of spermatogenesis. In addition, the effect of the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia on germ cell numbers and recovery of reproductive functions after sexual maturation was investigated. Therapy for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia seldom results in infertility. The present study gives new information on the mechanisms by which cancer treatments exert their gonadal toxicity in immature testis.Siirretty Doriast

The development and typology of number suppletion in adjectives

This paper looks at the cross-linguistically rare phenomenon of suppletion in number in adjectives. I consider how such suppletion arises by looking at six known examples with a special focus on the Brittonic languages (Breton, Cornish and Welsh) which are discussed as an extended case study. Three generalisations are suggested on the basis of the typological study. First, adjectives denoting size (“small” and “big”) are at the centre of this phenomenon. Second, where the etymology of the adjectives is known, the plural member of the suppletive pair for “small” develops from a lexeme denoting something having been divided into or consisting of small parts. These lexemes can also be used with some singular nouns and in such cases their reference is to the component structure of the referent. Finally, adjectives with number suppletion tend to mark plural number consistently in environments in which plural marking is otherwise optional or rare