flertallsbæreren

Flertallsbæreren is a term used in linguistic theory to describe the element within a noun phrase that bears the feature of plurality. The concept helps explain how languages mark and propagate number agreement across a noun phrase, and it is primarily a descriptive tool in grammar rather than a fixed, universal category.

In different languages, the plural feature can be realized in various ways. It may be attached to the noun as a suffix or internal inflection, so the noun stem itself carries the plural mark. In other languages, the plural is carried by a determiner or demonstrative that accompanies the noun, or by a separate functional head in the grammar that assigns plurality to the whole noun phrase. Some analyses identify the flertallsbæreren with a determiner, a Num head, or the noun head itself, depending on the theoretical framework. Because plural marking can be distributed across different positions, scholars debate which element is the true bearer, but they agree that the rest of the noun phrase must align with the bearer’s plural value.

The term is most commonly used in theoretical and descriptive linguistics and appears in Scandinavian grammars and typological studies. It is not universally employed, and some grammars prefer alternative wording such as “plural-marking element” or “plural feature carrier” to describe the same phenomenon.