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Article published In:
Linguistics of the Tibeto-Burman Area
Vol. 45:1 (2022) ► pp.1–21

Classifiers before numerals

Origin of an atypical morpheme order

| Institute of Linguistics, Academia Sinica

Languages with sortal classifiers (clf) are distributed across the world, with a large concentration in East and South (east) Asia. Across the world’s classifier languages, few are attested which order classifiers before numerals in counted noun phrases (clf num). The Sino-Tibetan language family includes languages without sortal classifiers, languages with the more typical num clf order, as well as languages with clf num order. The latter group of languages are concentrated in Northeast India and neighboring regions. The Sino-Tibetan languages with clf num order do not fit under one genealogical node. The present hypothesis is that the classifiers arose through repetition of the counted noun, following which the order spread via contact. The clf num order appears to have arisen at least as early as the time of Proto-Bodo-Garo. However, we do not yet find cognate classifiers at a time depth beyond Proto-Bodo-Garo. A remaining mystery is why such a cross-linguistically rare morpheme order spread so easily within the Northeast India linguistic area.

Keywords: classifier, morphosyntax, typology, historical
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Documentation of classifier numeral order
    • 2.1 clf num order in Bodo-Garo languages
    • 2.2 clf num order in Northern Naga languages
    • 2.3 clf num order in Jingpho-Luish languages
    • 2.4 clf num order in Kuki-Chin languages
    • 2.5 clf num order in Karbi/Mikir
    • 2.6 clf-num order in Tani languages
    • 2.7 clf-num order in Tawrã-Idu languages
    • 2.8 n clf num order in Kman
  • 3.Possible path of historical development
  • 4.Potential spread of clf-num order beyond this linguistic area
  • 5.Conclusions and further implications
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • Abbreviations
  • References
Published online: 2 June 2022
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/ltba.21013.eva
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