A Cross-linguistic Investigation of the Syntax and Semantics of Classifiers

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25370431
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Linguistics
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: Ochi Masao 大阪大学, 言語文化研究科(言語文化専攻), 准教授 (50324835)
• Research Collaborator: Huang C. T. James ハーバード大学, 言語学部, 教授
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 類別詞 / 日本語 / 中国語 / 否定極性表現 / 統語論

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The present study is an investigation of the syntax and semantics of classifiers in natural languages. Our research results include the following. First, pre-nominal and post-nominal classifiers in language such as Japanese can be fruitfully analyzed within Borer's (2005) exo-skeletal syntax. In particular, post-nominal classifiers in this language act as direct range assigners and pre-nominal ones as indirect range assigners for the open values in the nominal domain. Second, by placing under scrutiny some species of negative polarity items in Japanese that consist of the numeral 'one' and a classifier, we have reached the conclusion that the post-nominal variety contains a phonologically null focus head, whose distribution is heavily constrained in a manner quite analogous to that of a null complementizer in English. Our overall research supports the view that classifier expressions in languages like Japanese involve a highly articulated functional structure.

Free Research Field

統語論