Ch'ol Numeral Classifier Lexicon

[LMR22] [BC14] [AL09]

Typed classifier entries for Ch'ol (Cholan, Mayan), a classifier-for-numeral language. Classifiers in Ch'ol are bound morphemes suffixed to the numeral stem and are obligatory with all Mayan-based numerals (1–6 and vigesimal system). Spanish-borrowed numerals (7+) already encode a measure function and do not take classifiers.

Classifier selection

Ch'ol classifiers are largely derived from positional and transitive verb roots ([AL09]; [BCA19]). The position or shape of the noun is relevant: the same noun can be counted with different classifiers depending on its configuration (e.g., one long tree vs. one fallen tree). [AL09] identifies at least 180 classifiers.

CLF-for-NUM semantics

In the CLF-for-NUM analysis ([LMR22] §4; [BC14]), each classifier denotes a measure function μ that the numeral requires as its first argument: ⟦ux⟧ = λm λP λx. [P(x) ∧ m(x) = 3] ⟦-kojty⟧ = μ_# (atom-counting measure for animals)

def Chol.Classifiers.pej : NounCategorization.ClassifierEntry

-p'ej — inanimate/generic default classifier. Semantically bleached for inanimates; also the base of vigesimal classifiers (-k'al for 20, -bajk for 400, -pijk for 8000).

Equations

• Chol.Classifiers.pej = { form := "-p'ej", gloss := "inanimate/generic", isDefault := true }

def Chol.Classifiers.kojty : NounCategorization.ClassifierEntry

-kojty — animals. Derived from positional root koty 'standing on four legs'.

Equations

• Chol.Classifiers.kojty = { form := "-kojty", gloss := "animal", semantics := [NounCategorization.SemanticParameter.animacy] }

def Chol.Classifiers.tyikil : NounCategorization.ClassifierEntry

-tyikil — people/humans.

Equations

• Chol.Classifiers.tyikil = { form := "-tyikil", gloss := "human", semantics := [NounCategorization.SemanticParameter.humanness] }

def Chol.Classifiers.kej : NounCategorization.ClassifierEntry

-k'ej — flat round objects (tortillas, tables).

Equations

• Chol.Classifiers.kej = { form := "-k'ej", gloss := "flat.round", semantics := [NounCategorization.SemanticParameter.shape], shapeDimension := some NounCategorization.ShapeDimension.twoD }

def Chol.Classifiers.tsijty : NounCategorization.ClassifierEntry

-ts'ijty — long things (trees, ropes).

Equations

• Chol.Classifiers.tsijty = { form := "-ts'ijty", gloss := "long", semantics := [NounCategorization.SemanticParameter.shape], shapeDimension := some NounCategorization.ShapeDimension.oneD }

def Chol.Classifiers.bujch : NounCategorization.ClassifierEntry

-bujch — seated/propped up things (bottles propped up, seated objects). Derived from positional root buch 'seated'.

Equations

• Chol.Classifiers.bujch = { form := "-bujch", gloss := "seated/propped", semantics := [NounCategorization.SemanticParameter.arrangement] }

def Chol.Classifiers.allClassifiers : List NounCategorization.ClassifierEntry

Equations

• Chol.Classifiers.allClassifiers = [Chol.Classifiers.pej, Chol.Classifiers.kojty, Chol.Classifiers.tyikil, Chol.Classifiers.kej, Chol.Classifiers.tsijty, Chol.Classifiers.bujch]

def Chol.Classifiers.defaultClassifier : NounCategorization.ClassifierEntry

Equations

• Chol.Classifiers.defaultClassifier = Chol.Classifiers.pej

theorem Chol.Classifiers.default_is_default : defaultClassifier.isDefault = true

The default classifier is marked as default.

theorem Chol.Classifiers.specific_classifiers_motivated : ((List.filter (fun (x : NounCategorization.ClassifierEntry) => !x.isDefault) allClassifiers).all fun (x : NounCategorization.ClassifierEntry) => decide (x.semantics.length > 0)) = true

All non-default classifiers carry at least one semantic parameter.

theorem Chol.Classifiers.classifiers_are_bound : (allClassifiers.all fun (x : NounCategorization.ClassifierEntry) => x.form.startsWith "-") = true

Ch'ol classifiers are bound morphemes (suffixes on the numeral stem). All forms begin with a hyphen, indicating bound status.