Multiple Classifier Constructions in Chinese: Semantic Representations and Interpretation Mechanism
After critically reviewing previous analyses, this paper proposes an alternative explanation, arguing that the basic structure of multiple classifier constructions (MCC) in Chinese is either number phrase + determiner phrase or vice versa, together forming a whole constituent. MCCs require a defini...
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| Language: | English |
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University of Ljubljana Press (Založba Univerze v Ljubljani)
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Acta Linguistica Asiatica |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.uni-lj.si/ala/article/view/21781 |
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| author | Yongzhong Yang |
| author_facet | Yongzhong Yang |
| author_sort | Yongzhong Yang |
| collection | DOAJ |
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After critically reviewing previous analyses, this paper proposes an alternative explanation, arguing that the basic structure of multiple classifier constructions (MCC) in Chinese is either number phrase + determiner phrase or vice versa, together forming a whole constituent. MCCs require a definite nominal phrase that can be bound by an existential quantificational operator. A nominal phrase that denotes specificity cannot be bound this way and thus cannot act as a distributor. The demonstrative acts as a quantificational or distributive operator that matches, individualizes, and marks the following constituent as singular or plural, representing both atoms and sets. This semantic property ensures that classification or distribution matching corresponds to the individual elements within the set referred to by the distributive share. MCCs thus allow two semantic interpretations.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c351d2a6ce2f437584a0d632d90d22f6 |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 2232-3317 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | University of Ljubljana Press (Založba Univerze v Ljubljani) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Acta Linguistica Asiatica |
| spelling | doaj-art-c351d2a6ce2f437584a0d632d90d22f62025-07-31T11:16:30ZengUniversity of Ljubljana Press (Založba Univerze v Ljubljani)Acta Linguistica Asiatica2232-33172025-07-0115210.4312/ala.15.2.9-34Multiple Classifier Constructions in Chinese: Semantic Representations and Interpretation MechanismYongzhong Yang0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0026-5167Yunnan University of Finance and Economics, China After critically reviewing previous analyses, this paper proposes an alternative explanation, arguing that the basic structure of multiple classifier constructions (MCC) in Chinese is either number phrase + determiner phrase or vice versa, together forming a whole constituent. MCCs require a definite nominal phrase that can be bound by an existential quantificational operator. A nominal phrase that denotes specificity cannot be bound this way and thus cannot act as a distributor. The demonstrative acts as a quantificational or distributive operator that matches, individualizes, and marks the following constituent as singular or plural, representing both atoms and sets. This semantic property ensures that classification or distribution matching corresponds to the individual elements within the set referred to by the distributive share. MCCs thus allow two semantic interpretations. https://journals.uni-lj.si/ala/article/view/21781multiple classifier constructionsemantic analysissemantic ambiguitycollective interpretationdistributive interpretation |
| spellingShingle | Yongzhong Yang Multiple Classifier Constructions in Chinese: Semantic Representations and Interpretation Mechanism Acta Linguistica Asiatica multiple classifier construction semantic analysis semantic ambiguity collective interpretation distributive interpretation |
| title | Multiple Classifier Constructions in Chinese: Semantic Representations and Interpretation Mechanism |
| title_full | Multiple Classifier Constructions in Chinese: Semantic Representations and Interpretation Mechanism |
| title_fullStr | Multiple Classifier Constructions in Chinese: Semantic Representations and Interpretation Mechanism |
| title_full_unstemmed | Multiple Classifier Constructions in Chinese: Semantic Representations and Interpretation Mechanism |
| title_short | Multiple Classifier Constructions in Chinese: Semantic Representations and Interpretation Mechanism |
| title_sort | multiple classifier constructions in chinese semantic representations and interpretation mechanism |
| topic | multiple classifier construction semantic analysis semantic ambiguity collective interpretation distributive interpretation |
| url | https://journals.uni-lj.si/ala/article/view/21781 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT yongzhongyang multipleclassifierconstructionsinchinesesemanticrepresentationsandinterpretationmechanism |