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Genders and Classifiers

A Cross-Linguistic Typology

Alexandra Y Aikhenvald editor Elena I Mihas editor

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Oxford University Press

Published:22nd Aug '19

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Genders and Classifiers cover

This volume offers a comprehensive account of the typology of noun classification across the world's languages. Every language has some means of categorizing objects into humans, or animates, or by their shape, form, size, and function. The most widespread are linguistic genders - grammatical classes of nouns based on core semantic properties such as sex (female and male), animacy, humanness, and also shape and size. Classifiers of several types also serve to categorize entities. Numeral classifiers occur with number words, possessive classifiers appear in the expressions of possession, and verbal classifiers are used on a verb, categorizing its argument. These varied sorts of genders and classifiers can also occur together. This volume elaborates on the expression, usage, history, and meanings of noun categorization devices, exploring their various facets across the languages of South America and Asia, which are known for the diversity of their noun categorization. The volume begins with a typological introduction that outlines the types of noun categorization devices and their expression, scope, functions, and development, as well as sociocultural aspects of their use. The following nine chapters provide in-depth studies of genders and classifiers of different types in a range of South American and Asian languages and language families, including Arawak languages, Zamucoan, Hmong, and Japanese.

In summary, this volume is highly recommended as the most current summation of what has been learned by researchers into noun-classification systems in recent years. It is an excellent tool for any scholar seeking to solidify their grasp of the grammatical possibilities of languages and for those aiming to document languages in as full and intercomparable a fashion as possible. * David Douglas Robertson, University of Victoria, Linguist List *
T]his volume is highly recommended as the most current summation of what has been learned by researchers into noun-classification systems in recent years. It is an excellent tool for any scholar seeking to solidify their grasp of the grammatical possibilities of languages and for those aiming to document languages in as full and intercomparable a fashion as possible. * LINGUIST List *

ISBN: 9780198842019

Dimensions: 242mm x 160mm x 23mm

Weight: 636g

334 pages