Classifier Systems: A Quantitative Investigation of Their Distribution and Function in Mandarin and Beyond

Yamei Wang

Advisor: Géraldine Walther, PhD, Department of English

Committee Members: James Blevins, Antonios Anastasopoulos

Horizon Hall, #4225, https://gmu.zoom.us/j/91721311027?pwd=MVpYY000M0ZVM0g4Z0VubDRRcFFaZz09
April 18, 2024, 05:00 PM to 07:00 PM

Abstract:

Classifier systems constitute one of the most prominent features of East and South-East Asian languages (Li, 2013). Classifiers categorize referent nouns based on salient semantic features such as humanness, animacy, shape, or others (Aikhenvald and Mihas, 2019). The work described in this dissertation constitutes a thorough quantitative investigation of the distribution and function of classifiers in Mandarin Chinese and beyond. The results of the studies settle a longstanding theoretical debates about the categorial nature of classifiers and contribute the first in-depth investigation of their communicative functions.

The implications of this work extend beyond language specific findings. By elucidating the complex interplay between classifiers and communicative efficiency, our study contributes to a deeper understanding of the cognitive processes underlying noun processing and learning. It also provides a framework for further investigations into the role of classifiers in other classifier languages and structures.