Saturday, September 3, 2016

Detail #308: Classifier-system Vaguely Overlapping with Core Cases

Consider a language with a classifier system, something like

free humannon-free humananimallong thinground thingimmotile thingother
Let's go on to consider a system where there are several, overlapping systems along this line but where one system operates on subjects, one on objects and one on obliques and indirect objects and the like. 
subjectobjectoblique
free humans..
non-free
humans
..
tame animals..
wild pack
animals
..
other animals,
birds
..
fishfish.
big thingsbig things.
flat thingsflat things.
round thingsround things.
unmovable
things
unmovable
things
unmovable
things
.adult humans.
.children.
.big mammals.
.birds
(no other
animals)
birds
(no other
animals)
..humans
.animalsanimals
..tools
..other
inanimates

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