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Article published In:
Classifiers
Edited by Alexandra Y. Aikhenvald
[Asian Languages and Linguistics 3:2] 2022
► pp. 153–180

Numeral classifiers in the Austronesian languages of Taiwan

| Beijing Normal University

This paper is a typological exploration of the nominal classification systems found in the Austronesian languages of Taiwan, with special focus on their meanings, forms and functions within the Austronesian typological context. Based on Aikhenvald’s defining properties and classifications of classifiers (2000, 2017, 2019, 2021, forthcoming), the Austronesian languages of Taiwan investigated in this study display a set of relatively small classifier systems consisting of numeral classifiers and other classifier-like terms, such as measure words and verbal action classifiers. Numeral classifiers can be free or bound morphemes. The choice of a numeral classifier is based on the semantic features of a noun referent, mostly involving ‘humanness’. Though not every referent has to be assigned to a numeral classifier, numeral classifiers always accompany numerals. In these languages, none of them have numeral classifiers without presupposing the presence of sortal classifiers.

Keywords: classifier, numeral classifier, verbal action classifier, measure word, Austronesian
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Background on the Austronesian languages of Taiwan, and grammatical overview
    • 2.1The Austronesian languages of Taiwan: Background information
    • 2.2Grammatical overview
      • 2.2.1Morphology
      • 2.2.2Word classes
      • 2.2.3Constituent order
  • 3.Paiwan
    • 3.1Numerals
    • 3.2Numeral classifiers
      • 3.2.1Sortal classifiers
      • 3.2.2Mensural classifiers
  • 4.Puyuma
    • 4.1Numerals
    • 4.2Sortal classifiers
    • 4.3Verbal action classifier
  • 5.Rukai
    • 5.1Numerals
    • 5.2Sortal classifiers
    • 5.3Verbal action classifiers
  • 6.Saaroa
    • 6.1Numerals
    • 6.2Sortal classifiers
    • 6.3Measure words
  • 7.Saisiyat
    • 7.1Numerals
    • 7.2Verbal action classifiers
    • 7.3Measure words
  • 8.Tsou
    • 8.1Numerals
    • 8.2Verbal action classifiers
    • 8.3Measure words
  • 9.Summary and conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • Abbreviations
  • References
Published online: 26 January 2023
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/alal.22017.pan
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