Non-transitive information flow in Japanese noun-classifier matching

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21248/hpsg.2003.15

Abstract

In Japanese, as in other classifier languages like Chinese and Malay, numerals do not directly quantize nouns, but first combine with a classifier to form a measure phrase (MP; cf. Aikhenvald 2000). From the perspective of constraint-based approaches to syntax/semantics, the mutual selective restriction between classifiers and nouns can be stated in terms of information-sharing and featural identity, to some extent parallel to the treatment of gender/number agreement (between determiner and noun, for instance) (cf. Pollard and Sag 1994; Kathol 1999). There are, however, data that challenge this line of approach to noun-classifier matching. We demonstrate in this paper that it is possible that a single noun is associated with different types of classifier, and show why they are problematic for unification-based approaches, similar to the situation with case syncretism in European languages (Ingria 1990 and others). Later in the paper, we argue that information-sharing between noun, predicate and classifier is not completely transitive, and present a formal analysis which models multiple selectional requirements with sets.

Downloads

Additional Files

Published

2003-10-01

How to Cite

Levy, Roger & Oshima, David Yoshikazu. 2003. Non-transitive information flow in Japanese noun-classifier matching. Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Head-Driven Phrase Structure Grammar 257–277. (doi:10.21248/hpsg.2003.15) (https://proceedings.hpsg.xyz/article/view/569) (Accessed October 6, 2024.)