紐威語之分類詞、數與個別化之分離性及相關性

On the Separation and Relatedness of Classifiers, Number, and Individuation in Niuean

本文為探究紐威語 (Niuean)（南島語系–玻里尼西亞語族–東加語分支）之數的研究。在紐威語中，數的概念必須體現於名詞組中；其能以數量標記(number markers) 、量詞 (quantifiers) 、數詞 (numerals) 、分類集合助詞(classifying collective particles)，或是經由複製名詞詞根來表示。本文主張紐威語具有數量標記以及不完全分類詞 (deficient classifiers)，且這兩者在句法位置上呈現互補分布。此外，分類集合助詞能自由地與數量標記或不完全分類詞一同出現於名詞範域；針對此現象，文中建議紐威語之數量標記具有兩種不同的句法功能，除了表示數量，數量標記有時也當集合助詞 (collective particles)。根據Borer (2005) 的研究，個別化的概念 (the concept of individuation)、分類 (classification)，以及數 (number) 常常在句法上以同一形式出現。本文的分析指出紐威語有非傳統上所熟悉的數以及分類詞系統，且上述的表徵，即個別化的概念、分類，以及數在此語言是可分開的，並能以不同的句法形式來表示。

This paper focuses on the role of number in Niuean, an Austronesian language in the Tongic subgroup of the Polynesian family. It is argued that the concepts of individuation, classification, and number are separable, even though they overlap significantly, as argued by Borer (2005). Number (i.e. singular/plural) must be expressed in the Niuean noun phrase, but it can be expressed on a variety of different elements in the phrase, such as on a quantifier, a numeral, or the reduplicated noun itself, or by means of a plural marker. The following question is addressed: Is it possible to situate number in a single functional head in Niuean? The answer is yes, but several problems must first be addressed. In order to explain the lack of the plural particle in quantified and counted nominal phrases, it is proposed that the linking particle that appears in such phrases be analyzed as a deficient classifier. This allows a uniform analysis for number: Niuean, like Armenian, has both a classifier and a number system. The paper then turns to examine certain classifying collective particles, which co-occur with the plural marker. These are considered to merge lower than number, but if number is otherwise unexpressed, they can raise to serve the function of number. The number marker itself is analyzed as being ambiguous between a number and a collective particle. In conclusion, neither the number system, nor the classifier system in Niuean is canonical, suggesting a system in change from classifiers to number.