Universal 1618: Edible: Manner of Ingestion, State of Food;
Nonedible : Value, Purpose/Function

Universal 1618: Edible: Manner of Ingestion, State of Food;
Nonedible : Value, Purpose/Function

Original

The implicational hierarchy of semantic distinctions for possessive classifier systems:
The primary distinction in possessive classifier systems is between edible and other possessed items.
Edibles are secondarily divided into edible vs. potable;
a tertiary categorization can be based on manner of eating (edible, potable, chewable, etc.): Manner of Ingestion > State of food.
The first distinction to appear with nonedibles is valued vs. nonvalued possession;
further distinctions are made according to how the possessed item is intended to be used:
shelter, vehicle, clothing, body ornaments, mats, etc.: Value > Purpose/Function.

Standardized

IF there are classifiers for edible possessed items, THEN there are for nonedible ones, and vice versa.
For the edible class:
IF a possessive classifier system distinguishes objects by state of food, THEN it also distinguishes them by manner of ingestion.

For the nonedible class:
IF a possessive classifier system distinguishes objects by purpose or function, THEN it also distinguishes them by value.

Keywords

possessive classifier

Domain

inflection, syntax, semantics

Type

implication

Status

achronic

Quality

absolute?

Basis

classifier languages and relevant literature analyzed by Croft 1994

Source

Croft 1994: 155, based on the research on Oceanic classifiers by Lichtenberk 1983

Counterexamples