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The semantic domains of numeral classifiers in Kammu

På svenska

Author

  • Sofia Söderberg

Summary, in English

This thesis aims at presenting the semantic domains of the numeral classifiers in Kammu by analysing the group of nouns that each classifier can be used with. As some alternations are possible due to semantic or pragmatic reasons these must be considered as well. The work is thus descriptive, but some typological comparisons will be undertaken, mainly based on Aikhenvald's Classifiers (2000) and Adams and Conklin's work on Austro-Asiatic (1973) as well as later work by Adams (1986). The system turns out to be unexpectedly simple as regards the animate classifiers. As regards classifiers based on physical properties and function, there are problematic cases, comparable with the classifier system of any other language. The complex logic behind these semantic domains are obviously based on cognitive processes but intertwined with function, which is culture-specific.

Publishing year

2007

Language

English

Document type

Student publication for Master's degree (one year)

Topic

  • Languages and Literatures

Keywords

  • classifiers
  • Kammu
  • numeral
  • austro-asiatic
  • cognition
  • culture
  • Linguistics
  • Allmän språkvetenskap/Lingvistik

Supervisor

  • Jan-Olof Svantesson