Universal #1625

Legacy number: 1625

 Number  1621
 Original  If a language has adjectives, then the numeral tends to modify the noun directly (that is, in most languages that have adjectives the numeral does not require the occurrence of a sortal classifier), but not vice versa.
 Standardized  IF there is a distinct word class of adjective, THEN numerals tend to combine with nouns directly, without a sortal classifier.

OR BY CONTRAPOSITION:
IF numerals do not combine with nouns directly but need a sortal classifier, THEN there is no distinct word class of adjective.
 Keywords  word class, adjective, numeral, noun, classifier
 Domain  syntax
 Type  implication
 Status  achronic
 Quality  statistical
 Basis  50 languages (sampled by the method of Bakker, Hengeveld, & Rijkhoff) surveyed in Rijkhoff 2000
 Source  Rijkhoff 2000: 227

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Discussion
Counterexamples
Hmong Njua (Hmong-Mien).However, as Rijkhoff shows, Hmong Njua classifiers have assumed other functions and the language has developed some kind of regular number marking (which is unusual for a classifier language). This suggests that Hmong Njua does not use the kind of noun that is commonly employed in a classifier language.
Notes
Cf. #1626, which provides the rationale.Other formulation:In order for a language to have a word-class of adjectives, it must not have sortal classifiers of the Thai or Japanese type.
Comment
Frans Plank · 3 Aug 2006
Cf. <a class="innerLink" href="browse.php?entry_id=1626"><img src="../img/entry.gif" border="0">, which provides the rationale. Other formulation: In order for a language to have a word-class of adjectives, it must not have sortal classifiers of the Thai or Japanese type.