Descriptive studies of Chinese classifiers

2017 ◽  
pp. 6-28
Author(s):  
Song Jiang
Keyword(s):  
Chinese Classifiers

scholarly journals Co-Varying Collexeme Analysis of Chinese Classifiers 棵 kē and 株 zhū

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei-lun Lu ◽  
Aneta Dosedlová
Keyword(s):  
Euclidean Distance ◽  
East Asian ◽  
Grammatical Category ◽  
Standard Chinese ◽  
Numeral Classifier ◽  
Asian Languages ◽  
Modern Standard ◽  
Chinese Classifiers

The numeral classifier is a grammatical category in plenty of East Asian languages, with Modern Standard Chinese being one of the most widely reported. In Chinese, there are many classifiers that are near-synonymous, meaning that certain classifiers may be interchangeable in certain contexts. However, these classifiers are used with semantically similar nouns, and as a result, the distinction between the various usages is not always clear. In view of this issue, we propose to study near-synonymous classifiers using the co-varying collexeme method and the Euclidean distance, illustrating with 棵 kē and 株 zhū. We report results that not only partially confirm but also complement what has been found in previous raw-frequency-based research.

Classifiers ≠ Determiners

2009 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 487-503 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yicheng Wu ◽  
Adams Bodomo
Keyword(s):  
Definite Article ◽  
Chinese Classifiers

Cheng and Sybesma (1999, 2005) argue that classifiers in Chinese are equivalent to a definite article. We argue against this position on empirical grounds, drawing attention to the fact that semantically, syntactically, and functionally, Chinese classifiers are not on the same footing as definite determiners. We also show that compared with Cheng and Sybesma's ClP analysis of Chinese NPs (in particular, Cantonese NPs, on which their proposal crucially relies), a consistent DP analysis is not only fully justified but strongly supported.

Classifiers augment and maintain shape-based categorization in Mandarin speakers

2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria D. Sera ◽  
Kaitlin R. Johnson ◽  
Jenny Yichun Kuo
Keyword(s):  
Mandarin Chinese ◽  
Word Learning ◽  
Native Speakers ◽  
English Speakers ◽  
Shape Bias ◽  
Solid Objects ◽  
Mandarin Speakers ◽  
Chinese Classifiers

AbstractPast evidence suggests that adult Mandarin speakers rely on shape more heavily than English speakers when categorizing solid objects (Kuo and Sera 2009). In this experiment, we began to examine that effect developmentally by investigating the acquisition of the three most common Mandarin Chinese classifiers for solid objects (i.e. ge, zhi and tiao) in relation to development in shape-based categorization by native speakers of Mandarin and English from 3 years of age to adulthood. We found that 3-year-old Mandarin speakers were above chance in their classifier knowledge, but this knowledge continued to develop through 7 years of age. We also found that Mandarin speakers relied more heavily on shape than English speakers, and that shape-based categorization among English speakers tended to decline with age on the trials in which shape choices matched the Mandarin classifiers. The findings suggest that classifiers initially augment Mandarin speakers' attention to the shape of solid objects, and then maintain this early stronger shape bias after they are fully learned. The work highlights how categorization and word learning are graded and intertwined.

Blocking Effects in the Learning of Chinese Classifiers

2016 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 972-999 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Z. Paul ◽  
Theres Grüter
Keyword(s):  
Blocking Effects ◽  
Chinese Classifiers
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document