The Case of Markedness Reversal in the Treatment of Slovene Numerals from the Point of View of the Slovene Language Naturalness Theory

Abstract

The article presents the basic concepts of the Slovene (linguistic) Naturalness Theory, in particular the derivation as sequence of the theory's presuppositions. In the derivations, the predictions of language behaviour are obtained from the pairing of the values contained in the scales. The latter reflect the pertinent language data, and are founded on nine criteria. In the less natural system of non-cardinal numbers and indefinite numerals, the derivations undergo the socalled markedness reversal, that is, in some of the scales the oredering of their values is reversed, given the less natural environment.