Languages in Set 2 have a distinction between nouns and verbs, but there is some degree of neutralization between the two categories. For instance, in some languages, verbs can be used as nouns without any changes, or vice versa. An example of a language in Set 2 is Mandarin Chinese, where some verbs can be used as nouns without any morphological changes.
Languages in Set 4 have a clear distinction between nouns and verbs, with no word classes that exhibit characteristics of both categories. Examples of languages in Set 4 include many Indo-European languages, such as English and Russian. In these languages, nouns and verbs are distinct categories, and words are typically classified as one or the other. WALS Noellen Sets 1 5
The World Atlas of Language Structures (WALS) is a comprehensive online database that provides a unique perspective on the structural properties of languages from around the world. Compiled by Harald Hammarström and André Rieß, WALS is a valuable resource for linguists, researchers, and language enthusiasts. One of the notable features of WALS is the classification of languages into various sets based on their structural characteristics. In this essay, we will explore WALS Noellen Sets 1-5. Languages in Set 2 have a distinction between