Overview

Almost all languages have some ways of categorizing nouns. Languages of South-East Asia have classifiers used with numerals, while most Indo-European languages have two or three genders. They can have a similar meaning and one can develop from the other. This book provides a comprehensive and original analysis of noun categorization devices all over the world. It will interest typologists, those working in the fields of morphosyntactic variation and lexical semantics, as well as anthropologists and all other scholars interested in the mechanisms of human cognition.

Full Product Details

Author:   Alexandra Y. Aikhenvald (, La Trobe University)
Publisher:   Oxford University Press
Imprint:   Oxford University Press
Dimensions:   Width: 15.60cm , Height: 2.90cm , Length: 23.40cm
Weight:   0.810kg
ISBN:  

9780199264667

ISBN 10:   019926466
Pages:   564
Publication Date:   27 March 2003
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   To order  
Stock availability from the supplier is unknown. We will order it for you and ship this item to you once it is received by us.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Preliminaries Chapter 2: Noun Class and Gender Systems Chapter 3: Noun Classifiers Chapter 4: Numeral Classifiers Chapter 5: Classifiers in Possessive Constructions Chapter 6: Verbal Classifiers Chapter 7: Locative and Deictic Classifiers Chapter 8: Different Classifier Types in One Language Chapter 9: Multiple Classifier Languages Chapter 10: Classifiers and Other Grammatical Categories Chapter 11: Semantics of Noun Categorization Devices Chapter 12: Semantic Organization and Functions of Noun Categorization Chapter 13: Origin and Development of Noun Categorization Devices Chapter 14: Noun Categorization Devices in Language Acquisition and Dissolution Chapter 15: Conclusions Appendix 1: Noun Categorization by Means Other than Classifiers Appendix 2: From Nouns to Classifiers: Further Examples of Semantic Change Appendix 3: Fieldworker's Guide to Classifier Languages

Reviews

`Review from previous edition This study is extremely authoritative and up-to-date ... This book has much to offer linguists motivated by any one of several primary interests, particularly universals and the connection between language and cognition.' Journal of Linguistics `Aikhenvald displays the rare gift of being able to inspire interest in new research through the success of her own results, without stifling those future possibilities through undue certitude in having discovered all of the answers already. The best thing about this very excellent book is precisely the author's keen awareness that it is not the last word on the subject.' Journal of Linguistics `Classifiers is an invaluable compendium. The scholarship is impressive and the scope extensive.' Linguistic Typology `An encyclopedic and up-to-date treatment of a vast body of research...hugely impressive.' Studies in Language

a real treasure...highly stimulating. Thomas Stolz, Sprachtypologie und Universalienforschung Aikhenvald's book is the most comprehensive and dependable guide available - it is unique Terry Malone, SIL International Book Reviews The most thorough attempt to date on noun categorization devices. It surveys about 500 languages which the author claims is one-tenth of all languages. Language

Author Information

Alexandra Aikhenvald is Professor of Linguistics and Deputy Director of the Research Centre for Linguistic Typology at La Trobe University. She was a Research Fellow at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR 1980-89, and Professor of Linguistics at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil, until 1994

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