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Semantic change in the grammaticalization of classifiers in Mandarin
Chinese
Janet Zhiqun Xing
Section 1 Introduction
1. Chinese numeral classifier: an individualizer which performs the same
function as a singulative derivational affix in language with the
collective/singulative distinction
2. Function: it provides a way to individualize and classify its referent
3. Numeral classifiers were derived from “noun1+numeral+noun1”
construction.
4. semantic change & grammaticalization:
Grammaticalization: lexical  grammatical
concrete/specificabstract/general
Semantic change is one of the major components in the process of
grammaticalization.
5. (1) What factors trigger the emergence and disappearance of numeral
classifiers?
(2) What factors lead to semantic change in the grammaticalization of
numeral classifiers?
6. [NUM+NP][NUM+NP/CL+NP][NUM+CL+NP]
concrete
abstract

filler
Section 2 From lexical to grammatical
1. The emergence of the Chinese classifier class is a result of both external
and the constructional developments.
2. Classifiers derived from nouns: 個、項
Classifiers derived from verbs: 封、張、件
_____>_____
3.Source meaning and classifier meaning
(1) source meaning: the etymological meaning of the lexical item from which
the classifier meaning has developed
(2) Source meanings are countable, concrete, visible, related to objects,
actions or events commonly seen in the ancient world
(3) source meaning v.s. classifier meaning: classifies with the same or a
similar source meaning may not share common characteristics among their
classifier meanings
e.g. 條 tree branchlong objects 一條繩子
支 tree branchbranchable concepts 一支部隊
4. development of classifier meanings:
(1) the lexical meaning before a lexeme enters into the grammatical form,
“NUM+NP/CL”
(2) the classifier meaning in the grammatical form “NUM+CL+NP”
 categorical change: verbal/nominalclassifier meaning
Section 3 Semantic change in grammaticalizaiton
1. Metaphoricalization: an analogical principle involves conceptualizing one
element of a conceptual structure Ca in terms of an element of another
conceptual structure Cb. (e.g.本、枝、條)
2. Metonymization: a contiguous or logical relation between two conceptual
structures/domains (e.g. partwhole; causeresult) (e.g.張、篇、項)
3. Reanalysis: change in the structure of an expression or class of expressions
that does not involve any immediate or intrinsic modification of its surface
manifestation (e.g.把、封)
4. AB: abstractification
GN: generalization
NM: nominalization
TSF: transference
PST: persistence (not change at all)
5. Almost all the lexemes’ semantic functions have become abstracted or
generalized in their evolution from nouns/verbs to functional words, a typical
characteristic of MTPH/MTNM.
6. Transference tends to arise from metonymization and semantic reanalysis,
whereas persistence does not involve any mechanism of semantic change.
Section 4 Disappearance of classifier meaning
1. General classifier- ge 个 (‘bamboo stalk’> ‘for general usage’):

the high frequency of ge 个 in Modern Chinese is derived from its
lack of distinctive semantic function.
a. 爸爸，我帶你看一东西。
b. 我們报了一专利。
c. 吃一桃吧。


Tao (2006) proposes a phono-syntactic account: phonetic erosion
This volume: depends on the classifier’s semantic and pragmatic
function
a. *一信
{cannot be omitted feng 封(‘letter in an envolope’)}
2. Same construction [NUM+NP] in Middle Chinese: nil classifier

the classifier class itself was not fully developed
a. 獨見一女子，狀貌非常
b. 經一石橋，甚狹而峻。

the classifier pi 匹 was not semantically conventionalized for
‘horses’
c. 忽有一客來看之，乘一白馬。

the relationship between Modern Chinese and Middle Chinese:
seems to be triggered by similar linguistic factors (both semantic
and pragmatic)
Section 5 Construction grammar, semantic change, and
grammaticalization
1. Construction Grammar (CG): “is considered a ‘holistic’ framework
which emphasizes the uniform representation of form and function and
states that no one level of grammar, be it syntactic, semantic or
phonological, is autonomous.

V NP NP
(give you a present, send you a letter/ write you a letter)
Verb:
give, send, write…etc.
皆有”授予”之意
2. In the Chinese classifier- two types of changes:

(1) nominalization from verbs
(2) grammaticalization from nouns to classifiers

When the nouns or verbs are used as a head of a phrase (i.e. a noun
phrase or verb phrase) without a numeral, they convey a nominal
or verbal meaning, but when they are used with a numeral, they
can express a classifier meaning
a. 一人持本，一人讀析 (book)
b. 公德數抄寫一本 (one CL)
c. 既張我弓，即挾我矢。(open)
d. 子產以帷幕九張行 (nine CL)
3. Bisang- “a lexical item in a given position is coerced into a particular
semantic interpretation associated with that position.”
4. Hopper & Traugott define grammaticalization as “the change whereby
lexical items and constructions come in certain linguistic contexts to
serve grammatical function and, once grammaticalized, continue to
develop new grammatical functions.