(In)definiteness and Vietnamese classifiers

Vietnamese numeral classifiers (CL) in the bare classifier construction [CL+N] can be interpreted as definite and as indefinite. Based on a corpus of written and oral texts with a broad range of different contexts for the potential use of classifiers, this paper aims at a better understanding of the factors and linguistic contexts which determine the use of the classifier in [CL+N] and its specific functions. The following results will be presented: (a) Even though classifiers tend to be interpreted as definite, they are also used as indefinites, irrespective of word order (subject/preverbal or object/postverbal). (b) There is a strong tendency to use the [CL+N] construction with definite animate nouns in the subject position, while bare nouns [N] preferably occur with indefinite inanimate nouns in the object position. (c) The vast majority of nouns occurring with a classifier are sortal nouns with the features [−unique, −relational]. (d) Discourse and information structure are the most prominent factors which determine the grammar of Vietnamese classifiers. The influence of discourse is reflected in the pragmatic definiteness expressed by the classifier. Moreover, information structure enhances the use of a classifier in contexts of contrastive topic, contrastive focus and focus particles. Finally, thetic statements and some special constructions (existential clauses, verbs and situations of appearance) provide the environment for the indefinite interpretation of classifiers