Classifier

The term classifier is used for a variety of elements whose function can somehow be described as that of assigning linguistic expressions to classes:

Examples

In Chinese, unless the noun itself denotes a unit of a measurement (e.g. nián 'year'), it must be preceded by a classifier when it occurs with a numeral or a demonstrative.

	yí	gè	qiú
	one	CL	ball
	'one ball'

Subtypes

• numeral classifier (this is probably the most frequent sense when classifier is used alone), also called sortal classifier
• mensural classifier
• possessive classifier
• classifier (Athapaskan linguistics)

Other languages

Chinese 量词
German Klassifikator

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