Documentation

Linglib.Phenomena.Classifiers.Studies.Chierchia1998

Noun Categorization × @cite{chierchia-1998} Nominal Mapping Parameter @cite{chierchia-1998}

Connects the cross-linguistic noun categorization typology in Aikhenvald2000 to the Nominal Mapping Parameter from Theories.Semantics.Kinds.NMP.

Predictions verified #

Classifier Strategy Connection (@cite{little-moroney-royer-2022}) #

@cite{chierchia-1998}'s theory is a CLF-for-N theory: the classifier atomizes the noun denotation (which denotes kinds in [+arg, -pred] languages). This predicts that classifiers in [+arg, -pred] languages should appear beyond numerals — with demonstratives, quantifiers, and relative clauses. Mandarin and Japanese confirm this (那本书 'that CLF book', Mandarin).

The NMP-to-classifier bridge is accurate at Aikhenvald's morphosyntactic level but does not distinguish between CLF-for-NUM and CLF-for-N within the numeral classifier type. Both Ch'ol (CLF-for-NUM) and Shan (CLF-for-N) are numeralClassifier in Aikhenvald's typology. The ClassifierStrategy field on NounCategorizationSystem captures this finer distinction.

Known gaps #

Map NominalMapping to the expected classifier type. [+arg, -pred] languages have numeral classifiers. [-arg, +pred] languages have noun class/gender. [+arg, +pred] languages (English/Germanic) lack a productive system.

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    Italian mapping is [-arg, +pred]. Italian is the star witness for predOnly: bare arguments are restricted and D must be projected for argumenthood.

    The Chierchia-Aikhenvald bridge: [+arg, -pred] languages are numeral classifier languages.

    [+arg, +pred] languages (English/Germanic) lack a productive noun categorization system in Aikhenvald's sense.

    French and Italian agree on Chierchia mapping: both are predOnly.

    §2: @cite{chierchia-1998}'s per-language strategy assignments #

    @cite{chierchia-1998}'s theory is a CLF-for-N theory: the classifier atomizes the noun denotation. The NMP determines that nouns denote kinds (need individuation), so classifiers serve the noun (atomization), not the numeral. This commits Chierchia's framework to a .forNoun strategy for every [+arg, -pred] language with classifiers.

    Per-language assignments live here (in this study file) rather than on NounCategorizationSystem, where they would silently endorse Chierchia's framework over alternatives like @cite{sudo-2016}'s .sudoBlocking.

    Chierchia's strategy assignment for Japanese: CLF atomizes a kind-denoting noun.

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      Chierchia's strategy assignment for Mandarin: CLF atomizes a kind-denoting noun.

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        Chierchia's framework assigns the CLF-for-N strategy to all [+arg, -pred] classifier languages.

        Empirical predictions of @cite{chierchia-1998}'s Nominal Mapping Parameter, verified against Fragment data.

        Bare NPs are licensed in [+arg] languages, not in [-arg] languages (Chierchia's central typological prediction).

        Chierchia's blocking principle: [+arg, -pred] languages have no articles to block covert type shifts. [-arg, +pred] languages block ι and ∃.

        No type-shift blocking in Mandarin ([+arg, -pred]: ι, ∃, ∩ all available).