Numerals in the Mongolian Language

Abstract

This paper is devoted to the etymology of numerals and classification of numerals in the Buryat language. This paper reveals similarities and differences in the terms “numeral” and “number”. In the linguistic research it is established that numerals in the Mongolian languages have a specific set of grammatical properties which distinguishes them as a significant part of speech. The basis of numerals is their special relation to the grammatical number. Numerals that express the concept of number cannot be correlated with the grammatical category of number. Numerals cannot take plural affixes. The lexical meaning of numerals is associated with the notion of plurality. Numerals can be combined with nouns and identify countable objects.