Greek to Lao: keep quantities precise while rebuilding counted noun phrases
A Greek numerical form can carry more than a quantity
The Greek school dictionary’s grammar appendix distinguishes cardinal numbers from ordinals, multiples and expressions of proportion. It also distinguishes approximate numerical nouns from nouns grouping units into a set. For Lao translation, first decide whether the source counts objects, gives their position in a sequence, or describes an approximate amount. A visible number-related word is not automatically an exact cardinal count.
The appendix documents τρεις and τρία as forms of three, with grammatical gender accounting for their difference. That distinction does not change the quantity to be preserved in Lao. The target construction instead needs a suitable way to count the particular referent; treating the Greek gender ending as an extra quantity or descriptive word would add information.
This matters in short shopping or inventory messages where the number can be more consequential than the surrounding sentence. Keep exact counts distinct from approximate groups and ordered positions. Then rebuild the noun phrase according to Lao counting grammar, rather than matching the source’s numerical morphology word for word.
Lao counting normally includes a classifier
Fedden and Corbett’s study illustrates a Lao purchase of two fish with the sequence paa3 sòòng3 too3: fish, two, animal classifier. The numeral follows the noun and precedes the classifier. A Greek numeral-plus-noun phrase consequently needs reordering and an additional grammatical counting element, even though the number of fish stays unchanged.
Their discussion says numeral classifiers are virtually obligatory and notes that an understood noun can be omitted. The remaining numeral–classifier expression can still mean two of the previously identified animals. When a Greek reply leaves its noun understood, do not assume that the Lao translation must either repeat a full noun phrase or leave a bare numeral.
The same study distinguishes numeral classifiers from reduced modifier classifiers used with demonstratives and other modifiers. It discusses different possibilities for a living cat and a toy representation. The relevant category depends on what is being counted, not only on the dictionary label cat. A Greek message about toys should therefore retain that referential distinction when choosing the Lao counting expression.
Sometimes the noun itself supplies the counting unit
Enfield’s primary sketch explains that many familiar Lao nouns have conventional numeral classifiers, but some nouns can instead classify themselves. His nest example uses hang2 both as the main noun and as a repeated counting element in a statement about making ten nests. Such repetition is a grammatical construction, rather than an accidental duplicate to delete from the translated sentence.
This provides a specific warning for Greek-to-Lao lists: an unfamiliar repeated item after a number may be carrying the unit of enumeration. Removing it because Greek counted the same object with fewer words can damage the target noun phrase. Conversely, the existence of repeaters does not authorize repeating any Lao noun freely; Enfield distinguishes them from conventional classifier assignments.
His sketch also illustrates classifiers with quantifiers corresponding to some and every, where the noun can be understood from context. A Greek sentence about every one of a known group therefore presents a different task from an isolated vocabulary translation of every. Preserve which set is quantified and allow the Lao classifier construction to carry the understood unit.
Language references