Some classes of classifier in Iu Mien (Yao)

• Main Author: Court, Christopher
• Other Authors: Arizona State University
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2024
• Subjects: Arts and Humanities
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/178928
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

A classifier (CH) is a noun (N) of a special grammatical type in Iu Mien, and quite generally in languages of the East Asian and Southeast Asian area, that co-occurs with numerals (Num). Semantically, Clfs serve to specify in some way, either qualitatively or quantitatively, a N (overt or implicit) or a verb (V) (see Figs. 1-3 below). We shall refer to Clfs of N's as N-Clfs, and to Clfs of V's as V-Clfs. 2 For many of the terms, and for the general plan of the exposition I am indebted to Matisoff (1973: Sec. 3.42). Syntactically, Clfs perform the function of enabling Num's to enter into constituency with N's and V's, while semantically, as specifiers, they individuate, instantiate, or otherwise make precise the reference of a N or V.