Full Idea
The syntactic distinction between singular and plural is not a universal feature of natural languages. Chinese manages nicely without it, and Sanskrit makes a tripartite distinction between singular, dual, and plural (more than two).
Gist of Idea
Some natural languages don't distinguish between singular and plural
Source
Peter Simons (Parts [1987], 4.3)
Book Reference
Simons,Peter: 'Parts: a Study in Ontology' [OUP 1987], p.143
A Reaction
Simons is mounting an attack on the way in which modern philosophy and logic has been mesmerised by singular terms and individuated objects. Most people seem now to agree with Simons. There is stuff, as well as plurals.