Blažek Václav. Altaic numerals

In: Blažek Václav (ed.). Numerals: comparative-etymological analyses of numeral systems and their implications: (Saharan, Nubian, Egyptian, Berber, Kartvelian, Uralic, Altaic and Indo-European languages). — Vyd. 1. V. — Brně: Masarykova univerzita, 1999, pp. 102-140.The Altaic hypothesis supposes a genetic relationship of Turkic, Mongolian, Tungus, Korean and Japanese. One of the most frequent arguments of its opponents (Clauson, Scerbak) is based on an imaginary absence of common numerals. The presence of common (= inherited) numerals represents certainly an important argument for a genetic relationship. But its absence has no declaring value — there are more safely related languages without any related numerals. The recent progress in a comparative historical phonology of Altaic languages allows to identify more inherited numerals and to differentiate them from the numerals of substratal or adstratal origin.