Shan Numeral Classifier Lexicon

@cite{little-moroney-royer-2022} @cite{moroney-2021} @cite{cushing-1887}

Typed classifier entries for Shan (Southwestern Tai, Kra-Dai), a classifier-for-noun language spoken in Myanmar and surrounding countries by approximately 4.6 million speakers.

Unlike Ch'ol classifiers, which are bound to the numeral, Shan classifiers are free morphemes derived from nominal elements. The classifier for animals, tǒ, also means 'body'; the classifier for plants, ton, is the head of the compound ton-mâj 'tree'.

CLF-for-N semantics

In the CLF-for-N analysis (@cite{little-moroney-royer-2022} §4; @cite{chierchia-1998}; @cite{jenks-2011}), the classifier atomizes the noun denotation: ⟦CLF⟧ = λPλx.[P(x) ∧ ¬∃y[P(y) ∧ y < x]]

Because the classifier is semantically connected to the noun (not the numeral), it appears in contexts beyond numerals: with quantifiers (ku 'every'), demonstratives (nâj 'this'), and relative clauses.

Word order

Shan word order is [N Num CLF], with the noun preceding the numeral and classifier. @cite{moroney-2021} analyzes this as NP-movement from a base position below ClfP to a position above the numeral and classifier.

def Fragments.Shan.Classifiers.an : Typology.ClassifierEntry

ʔǎn — inanimates (generic/default classifier for inanimate objects).

Equations

• Fragments.Shan.Classifiers.an = { form := "ʔǎn", gloss := "inanimate/generic", isDefault := true }

def Fragments.Shan.Classifiers.to : Typology.ClassifierEntry

tǒ — animals. Also means 'body' as a free noun.

Equations

• Fragments.Shan.Classifiers.to = { form := "tǒ", gloss := "animal", semantics := [Typology.SemanticParameter.animacy] }

def Fragments.Shan.Classifiers.ko : Typology.ClassifierEntry

kǒ — people/humans.

Equations

• Fragments.Shan.Classifiers.ko = { form := "kǒ", gloss := "human", semantics := [Typology.SemanticParameter.humanness] }

def Fragments.Shan.Classifiers.hoj : Typology.ClassifierEntry

hòj — round objects (fruits, jujubes).

Equations

• Fragments.Shan.Classifiers.hoj = { form := "hòj", gloss := "round", semantics := [Typology.SemanticParameter.shape], shapeDimension := some Typology.ShapeDimension.threeD }

def Fragments.Shan.Classifiers.ton : Typology.ClassifierEntry

ton — plants, trees. Head of compound ton-mâj 'tree'.

Equations

• Fragments.Shan.Classifiers.ton = { form := "ton", gloss := "plant", semantics := [Typology.SemanticParameter.shape], shapeDimension := some Typology.ShapeDimension.oneD }

def Fragments.Shan.Classifiers.lang : Typology.ClassifierEntry

lǎŋ — buildings, houses.

Equations

• Fragments.Shan.Classifiers.lang = { form := "lǎŋ", gloss := "building", semantics := [Typology.SemanticParameter.function] }

def Fragments.Shan.Classifiers.allClassifiers : List Typology.ClassifierEntry

Equations

• One or more equations did not get rendered due to their size.

def Fragments.Shan.Classifiers.defaultClassifier : Typology.ClassifierEntry

Equations

• Fragments.Shan.Classifiers.defaultClassifier = Fragments.Shan.Classifiers.an

theorem Fragments.Shan.Classifiers.default_is_default : defaultClassifier.isDefault = true

The default classifier is marked as default.

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

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

theorem Fragments.Shan.Classifiers.classifiers_are_free : (allClassifiers.all fun (x : Typology.ClassifierEntry) => !x.form.startsWith "-") = true

Shan classifiers are free morphemes (no leading hyphen).