Classifier (linguistics)

The measure word (also: Zähleinheitswort, Category Word, Numeralklassifikator or classifier ) is an obligatory in some languages ​​additional to numbers used in the formation of quantities as counting unit and also generally to form the plural.

Languages ​​in which measure words are obligatory and have to be used in any quantity, include the Sino-Tibetan languages ​​(eg Chinese) and the Kam - Tai languages ​​(such as Thai). Where, by number and measure word together a number word. Depending on the meaning of the term counted ( long objects, flat objects, animals, people, book pages, mountains, etc.) is to choose an appropriate measure word. The Japanese took over many measure words from Chinese.

Two loaves of bread, two glasses of milk ( instead of two glasses of milk ), two head of cattle: In German, remnants of earlier conventional developments are found. Other examples are in the German journal, federal, gram, kilogram, man, pair, pound, bag, and shot.