The Semantics of Measure Phrases

要旨

Languages use so-called measure phrases to express amount in noun phrases. In Japanese, classifier phrases (e.g., five-classifier) and measure phrases (e.g., three liters) are used for this purpose.1 For example, in five-classifier students, the amount of relevant students is indicated by the classifier phrase five-classifier. In three liters of water, the denotation of water is measured by the measure phrase three liters. In the following, the term measure phrases (hence MPs) includes both classifier phrases and genuine measure phrases. MPs in Japanese can be adjacent to the host noun, or the measured noun, and form a nominal constituent with it, as in (1a) and (2a). I call such MPs non-split MPs. MPs can also ‘split ’ from their host noun, i.e., they can be separated from the host noun, as in (1b) and (2b).2 I call such MPs split MPs.3 Sentences with non-split MPs are called non-split MP constructions, and ones with split MPs split MP constructions. (1) a. Non-split MP construction ([host noun + MP]-CASE): [Gakusei go-nin]-ga paatii-de utatta (koto)4,5 [student five-CL]-NOM party-at sang (the fact that) ‘(the fact that) five students sang at the party’

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