Studies In Language, Volume 17, Issue 1 (1993). pp. 1–51.
Language:
English
Abstract:
In a discussion of the functional range of classifiers, four operations of nominal concretization are identified as crucial for presenting a typology of classifier languages: individualization, classification, relationalization (possession), & referentialization. The actions of these operations are demonstrated in the Miao-Yiao language Hmong, & the diachronic development of the Hmong classifier system as a grammatical category is investigated, characterizing its evolution according to increasing grammaticalization measured along three parameters: [+/-exact], [+/-entity], & cohesion. These parameters are arranged in a three-dimensional continuum, & the evolutionary steps of increasing grammaticalization are estabished as nouns > class nouns > quantifiers > intrinsic quantifiers > classifiers. 2 Figures, 53 References. Adapted from the source document