Tallmål

Tallmål is a term used in linguistics to describe the system by which a language forms and expresses numerals. It covers cardinal numbers, ordinals, and, in some frameworks, related measurement terms and numerical constructions. The concept is used to analyze how different languages encode quantity, order, and arithmetic through their spoken and written forms.

Etymology and scope vary by scholarly tradition. In Nordic linguistic contexts, tallmål translates roughly to the study of counting language or numeral systems, focusing on how numerals are built from smaller parts and how counting is integrated into everyday speech. The term is not universally standardized and may be applied differently in various typological or historical studies.

Typology and features. Tallmål studies often classify numeral systems by base, morphology, and construction method. Base-10 (decimal), base-20 (vigesimal), and other base structures are examined to understand how numbers above ten are formed. Some languages use analytic forms with separate words for each number, while others employ synthetic or agglutinative morphemes to combine tens, units, and multipliers. The use of conjunctions, order of components (e.g., tens before units), irregular forms, and the presence of special words for small numbers are all relevant. Additionally, researchers look at how counting words relate to other counting practices, such as classifier systems or measurement terms.

Relevance and research. Tallmål informs cross-linguistic comparison of numeral systems, historical linguistics, and theories of numeracy development. It also intersects with education, cognitive science, and anthropology by exploring how different numeral structures influence arithmetic learning and cultural practices of counting.

See also: numeral systems, base-n numeration, counting systems, numeral morphology.