Multiple classifier constructions in Chinese : semantic representations and interpretation mechanism

Yang, Yongzhong (author)

After critically reviewing previous analyses, this paper proposes an alternative explanation, arguing that the basic structure of multiple classifier constructions (MCC) in Chinese is either number phrase + determiner phrase or vice versa, together forming a whole constituent. MCCs require a definite nominal phrase that can be bound by an existential quantificational operator. A nominal phrase that denotes specificity cannot be bound this way and thus cannot act as a distributor. The demonstrative acts as a quantificational or distributive operator that matches, individualizes, and marks the following constituent as singular or plural, representing both atoms and sets. This semantic property ensures that classification or distribution matching corresponds to the individual elements within the set referred to by the distributive share. MCCs thus allow two semantic interpretations.

• Language: English
• Keywords: multiple classifier construction, semantic analysis, semantic ambiguity, collective interpretation, distributive interpretation
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FF - Faculty of Arts
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: Str. 9-34
• Numbering: Vol. 15, no. 2
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-190471
• ISSN on article: 2232-3317
• DOI: 10.4312/ala.15.2.9-34
• Publication date in RUL: 04.11.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Acta linguistica asiatica
• Publisher: Založba Univerze v Ljubljani
• ISSN: 2232-3317
• COBISS.SI-ID: 255902464

Licences

• License: CC BY-SA 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
• Description: This Creative Commons license is very similar to the regular Attribution license, but requires the release of all derivative works under this same license.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Večklasifikatorske strukture v kitajščini : semantične predstavitve in mehanizem interpretacije

Abstract

Po kritičnem pregledu dosedanjih analiz članek predlaga alternativno razlago, da je osnovna struktura večklasifikatorskih zvez (VKZ) v kitajščini bodisi števniška fraza + določna fraza, bodisi obratno, ki skupaj tvorita eno samo skladenjsko enoto. VKZ-‍ji zahtevajo določno samostalniško frazo, ki jo lahko veže eksistenčni kvantifikacijski operator. Samostalniška fraza, ki izraža specifičnost, se ne more vezati na ta način in zato ne more delovati kot distributor. Kazalni zaimek deluje kot količinski ali distributivni operator, ki vzpostavlja ujemanje ter individualizira in označi naslednjo enoto kot edninsko ali množinsko, s čimer predstavlja tako posamezne enote (atome) kot množice. Ta semantična lastnost omogoča razvrstitveno ujemanje posameznih elementov znotraj množice, na katero kaže distributivni delež, zaradi česar imajo vsi VKS-ji dve možni semantični interpretaciji.

• Keywords: večklasifikatorska struktura, semantična analiza, semantična dvoumnost, kolektivna interpretacija, distributivna interpretacija