The neurolinguistics of classifiers

Abstract Classifier languages use classifiers to categorize nouns. As part of the linguistic noun-classification system, it is assumed that classifiers reflect the cognitive organization of the nominal system of speakers of classifier languages. The processing of classifiers during language comprehension and production has been examined in several neurolinguistic studies. This chapter reviews the neurolinguistic research that investigated classifiers and discusses topics such as (i) the semantic versus syntactic nature of classifier processing, (ii) the processing of different types of classifiers in terms of count versus mass, constraint strength, and cloze probability, and (iii) the activation and selection of classifiers during language production. While emerging evidence demonstrates that classifier systems affect human cognitive perception, less agreement has been reached regarding the processing of classifiers. This chapter discusses some potential factors for discrepancies and provides suggestions for future neurolinguistic investigations on the representation and processing of classifiers.