Classifier

The term classifier is used for a variety of elements whose function can somehow be described as that of assigning linguistic expressions to classes:

Examples
In Chinese, unless the noun itself denotes a unit of a measurement (e.g. nián 'year'), it must be preceded by a classifier when it occurs with a numeral or a demonstrative.


 * yí||gè||qiú||
 * ||one||CL||ball||
 * colspan="2"|'one ball'||
 * }
 * colspan="2"|'one ball'||
 * }
 * colspan="2"|'one ball'||
 * }

Subtypes

 * numeral classifier (this is probably the most frequent sense when classifier is used alone), also called sortal classifier
 * mensural classifier
 * possessive classifier
 * classifier (Athapaskan linguistics)

Other languages
Chinese 量词 German Klassifikator