A Lexical Approach to the Semantics of Classifiers
곽은주 · Korean Journal of Linguistics · 2012
Numeral readings are expressed by numeral NPs either with or without classifiers. Traditionally, classifiers are assumed to carry the counting function. Nomoto (2010) argues against this view and proposes that classifiers include atomicity and classification in their semantics. He claims that the lack of subkind readings with numeral NPs with classifiers is ascribed to the singularity of classifiers. I critically review Nomotos structural analysis and propose that classifiers include information for argument domains in their semantics. I argue that both the lack of subkind readings and its exceptions are due to the different lexical properties of classifiers.