Case-sensitive plural suppletion in Barguzin Buryat: On case containment, suppletion typology, and competition in morphology

This paper examines plural suppletion in the Barguzin dialect of Buryat (Mongolic, Russia), which occurs only accusative and genitive noun phrases. The restricted distribution this process, specifically its absence oblique cases, is significant for recent research on typology feature structure case. For much work vein, would qualify as having an ‘ABA’ pattern, predicted to be unattested. I argue that suppletive morpheme question a portmanteau whose morphological requirements cause it conflict, independent reasons, with realization Consequently, does not falsify theories normally ban ABA patterns, but rather instantiates principled exception them sharpens our understanding them.