Från rytters och cowboys till tjuvstrykers - s-pluralen i svenskan : en studie i språklig interferens = From rytters and cowboys to tjuvstrykers : the s plural in Swedish : a study in linguistic borrowing

This study investigates the integration of the s plural into Swedish over a period of almost 500 years; it is based on more than 1500 different words. It shows 1) that the s plural has a longer history and a more heterogeneous background in Swedish than is usually assumed, 2) that the s plural has a stronger position in language usage, especially certain types of text in written Swedish, than earlier descriptions and guides to language usage (dictionaries, grammars, handbooks on correct Swedish etc.) have given reason to expect, 3) that to a higher degree than has previously been observed the use of the s plural is caused by the form and meaning of the words, the functions of the text and the social prestige that during the whole of the Modern Swedish period has been attached to citations from foreign languages, and 4) that during the 20th century the s plural has become so productive in Swedish that it should be regarded as a special Swedish declension.