Though "ears of corn" strikes me as more of a container/measurement thing than a counter thing. I have two ears of corn or two cans of corn or two cups of frozen corn. I have two heads of lettuce or two bowls of lettuce or two lettuce leaves. I always have two *something* of flour (pounds, bags, cups), because flour isn't something that comes in units otherwise.
Hmm. Do you use the counter word for only one thing?
(Maybe it's for talking about things to people who don't know very many words! Back when language was first being invented! If I come up to you and tell you "I have four knubles, would you like one" and you have no idea what a knuble is, forcing me to say "I have four small four-legged animals called knubles" gives you a clue.)
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branchandroot
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Date: 2006-03-19 04:21 pm (UTC)Hmm. Do you use the counter word for only one thing?
(Maybe it's for talking about things to people who don't know very many words! Back when language was first being invented! If I come up to you and tell you "I have four knubles, would you like one" and you have no idea what a knuble is, forcing me to say "I have four small four-legged animals called knubles" gives you a clue.)