Quantity superlatives around the world

Legend (colors)

	M: morphological superlative marker
	(e.g. tall-est)
	PERIPH: periphrastic superlative marker, in some cases optional
	(e.g. Turkish en leziz `most delicious')
	DEF: superlative indicated via definiteness alone
	(e.g. French la plus belle `the more beautiful')
	CMPR: no formal distinction between comparative and superlative
	(e.g. as in Irish)
	ALL: superlative indicated with "of/than all"
	(e.g. Russian vyš-e vse-x `tall-er all-of')
	ANY: superlative indicated with "of/than some/any"
	(e.g. Khmer klang ciang kee: `strong exceed someone')
	VERY or ABS: intensifiers are used, or there is only an 'absolute' (i.e. 'elative') superlative
	(e.g. Maori teitei rawa* atu* `tall indeed away')
	OTHER: either no superlative is reported, or some other strategy is used
	(e.g. in Vietnamese where the superlative is reportedly indicated aspectually)
	n/i: no information

	Circle: Quantity superlative used for relative but not proportional
	Square: Quantity superlative used both relative and proportional
	Diamond: Ambiguous between comparative and superlative
	Downward-pointing triangle: No genuine superlative construction