entallplural

Entallplural is a coined term in linguistic typology used to describe a proposed link between semantic entailment and grammatical plurality. In systems described as entallplural, number marking on a noun or its dependents (such as determiners or agreeing verbs) flags that the referent, though possibly singular in form, is semantically plural because its internal composition or the predicate it participates in entails multiple individuals. The term is not part of a fixed cross-linguistic category and appears mainly in theoretical discussions or conlang design rather than in established grammars.

Definition and mechanics: Entallplural distinguishes referential plurality (the actual count of entities) from entailment-based plurality (whether the situation described entails multiple individuals). In some analyses, a noun may bear entallplural when the corresponding predicate entails plurality, even if the referent is treated as a unit; in others, entallplural may be realized only on the verb or determiner. The exact morphological realization varies by language, ranging from special suffixes to clitics or agreement patterns.

Examples: In a hypothetical Language X, a collective noun like “team” is marked with entallplural on the verb, yielding a form closer to “The team are arriving” rather than “The team is arriving” when the predicate emphasizes members’ actions. In Language Y, a determiner preceding a collectivity may trigger verbal plurality through entallplural agreement.

Relation to other concepts: Entallplural relates to collective nouns, grammatical number, and semantic number, and to cross-linguistic patterns in which collectives or distributive meanings interact with entailment relations.

Status: The concept remains largely theoretical and not standardized; it is primarily discussed in niche literatures and among conlangers. No universal criteria exist for when entallplural should be used.