ofliczebniki

Ofliczebniki is a term used in linguistic typology to designate a specialized set of numerals that encode both quantity and noun class. The name combines the Polish word liczebniki (numerals) with a prefix drawn from a fictional language family called Ofli, and it is chiefly used in discussions of reconstructed or constructed languages. In descriptions of the Ofli languages, ofliczebniki are treated as a distinct subcategory from standard cardinal and ordinal numerals, because they interact with classifiers and noun morphology in characteristic ways.

Morphology and syntax: Ofliczebniki typically appear as bound morphemes that attach to the noun or function as numeral heads in a compound. Some languages employ analytic forms with a separate classifier and numeral, while others use synthetic compounding, where the numeral and classifier fuse into a single unit. They often show inflection for number and sometimes gender or noun class, so the form of the numeral may change to agree with the counted noun.

Usage: They are used when counting discrete items that belong to a defined semantic class, such as animals, long objects, or flat objects, where a classifier conveys essential information for interpretation. In many Ofli dialects, ofliczebniki are more common in formal registers or set phrases, and their use may be limited or stylistically marked in everyday speech.

Examples: In reconstructions, a basic inventory includes numeral stems for small quantities (1–4) and strategies for forming larger numbers through compounding with classifier affixes. The exact inventory and morphology vary between Ofli dialects or conlanguistic reconstructions.

See also: liczebniki, ordinal numerals, classifiers, Ofli languages, conlang.