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 #
argOnly_implies_numeral_classifier: [+arg, -pred] → numeral classifierspredOnly_implies_noun_class: [-arg, +pred] → noun classmandarin_chierchia_consistent,japanese_chierchia_consistent,french_chierchia_consistent,italian_chierchia_consistent: Actual classifier types match predictions
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 #
- English [+arg, +pred] prediction (no system) not yet connected to data
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.
Equations
- NMP.nominalMappingToClassifierType Semantics.Kinds.NMP.NominalMapping.argOnly = some Typology.ClassifierType.numeralClassifier
- NMP.nominalMappingToClassifierType Semantics.Kinds.NMP.NominalMapping.predOnly = some Typology.ClassifierType.nounClass
- NMP.nominalMappingToClassifierType Semantics.Kinds.NMP.NominalMapping.argAndPred = none
Instances For
French mapping is [-arg, +pred].
Mandarin mapping is [+arg, -pred].
Japanese mapping is [+arg, -pred].
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 are noun class languages.
[+arg, +pred] languages (English/Germanic) lack a productive noun categorization system in Aikhenvald's sense.
Mandarin's actual classifier type matches the Chierchia prediction.
Japanese's actual classifier type matches the Chierchia prediction.
French's actual classifier type matches the Chierchia prediction.
Italian's actual classifier type matches the Chierchia prediction.
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.
Instances For
Chierchia's strategy assignment for Mandarin: CLF atomizes a kind-denoting noun.
Instances For
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).
No type-shift blocking in Japanese.