Classifier in Numeral-Noun Constructions in spoken Persian: A Typological-semantic Approach

In some languages numeral-Noun constructions are not direct constructions and classifiers are needed. Nouns different properties in classifier languages, i.e. being {-shape} is the vital reason for the existence of classifiers. Persian nouns are {+shape}, but numeral-noun constructions especially in spoken Persian is not direct. In this paper, classifiers and nouns properties are presented typologically, then based on data from standard spoken Persian we argue that spoken Persian classifiers, i.e. “tā” and “dāne” are pragmatic classifiers. “tā” is “number clarification” classifier and “dāne” is “attitudinal-emphatic” classifier. Plural marker in the construction of numeral-noun in spoken Persian have also pragmatic function and is a “definite marker”.