Abstract
This paper takes a corpus-based approach to cross-linguistic contrast of classifier constructions in English and
Chinese on the basis of comparable corpora of spoken and written data in the two languages, with the aim of
uncovering the potential differences and similarities in their use of classifiers. Chinese is generally recognized as
a classifier language whereas current English grammars rarely mention the term ‘classifier’. Counterparts of
Chinese classifiers in English are treated as a special group of nouns. Our study demonstrates that differences in
use of classifiers in English and Chinese are more quantitative than qualitative, and classifiers in the two
languages are less different from each other than their different terms in current use would suggest
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication status | Published - 2008 |
| Event | The Boundaries of Classification: Definitions, Processes and Adaptability - University of Kent, United Kingdom Duration: 15 Sept 2008 → 18 Sept 2008 |
Conference
| Conference | The Boundaries of Classification: Definitions, Processes and Adaptability |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | United Kingdom |
| Period | 15/09/08 → 18/09/08 |