Shan numeral classifiers

A Shan noun is counted through a classifier, a free morpheme after the numeral in the order noun–numeral–classifier: mǎa sǎam tǒ 'three dogs'. The classifier is chosen by the noun, and the classifiers are nominal in origin: tǒ for animals is also the noun 'body', and ton for plants is the head of the compound ton-mâj 'tree', which it counts. The classifier also appears with the interrogative numeral lǎaj 'how many', with quantifiers, demonstratives and relative clauses, and ʔǎn is the general classifier of inanimates. The basic classifiers below are those of [LMR22]'s table of Shan classifiers, after [Mor21].

Main definitions

• Shan.Classifiers.classifiers — the classifiers entered here.

References

• [LMR22]
• [Mor21]

def Shan.Classifiers.an : Classifier

ʔǎn, the general classifier of inanimates: tsɔ̂ sǎam ʔǎn 'three spoons'.

Equations

• Shan.Classifiers.an = { toMorph := Morphology.Morph.free "ʔǎn" }

def Shan.Classifiers.to : Classifier

tǒ, animals, also the noun 'body': mɛ́w sǎam tǒ 'three cats'.

Equations

• Shan.Classifiers.to = { toMorph := Morphology.Morph.free "tǒ" }

def Shan.Classifiers.ko : Classifier

kɔ̂, people: kón sǎam kɔ̂ 'three people'.

Equations

• Shan.Classifiers.ko = { toMorph := Morphology.Morph.free "kɔ̂" }

def Shan.Classifiers.hoj : Classifier

hòj, round objects: màak-khɔ̌ sǎam hòj 'three jujubes'.

Equations

• Shan.Classifiers.hoj = { toMorph := Morphology.Morph.free "hòj" }

def Shan.Classifiers.ton : Classifier

ton, plants and trees, the head of ton-mâj 'tree': ton-mâj sǎam ton 'three trees'.

Equations

• Shan.Classifiers.ton = { toMorph := Morphology.Morph.free "ton" }

def Shan.Classifiers.lang : Classifier

lǎŋ, buildings: hɤ́n sǎam lǎŋ 'three houses'.

Equations

• Shan.Classifiers.lang = { toMorph := Morphology.Morph.free "lǎŋ" }

def Shan.Classifiers.classifiers : Finset Classifier

The classifiers.

Equations

• Shan.Classifiers.classifiers = {Shan.Classifiers.an, Shan.Classifiers.to, Shan.Classifiers.ko, Shan.Classifiers.hoj, Shan.Classifiers.ton, Shan.Classifiers.lang}