Characteristics of numerals and classifiers in Darmdo Minyag

Based on first-hand data obtained during fieldwork, our article analyses numerals and frequently employed numeral classifiers of Darmdo Minyag. Numeral classifiers are obligated to follow a numeral when counting. There are three different roots for ‘ten’: /ɦa~ʁo/ used in the numbers 10–19; /ʁuɑ/ used in the numbers 20–49; and /ɡa/ used in the numbers 50–99. The presence of multiple roots for ‘ten’ with an initial glottal, uvular or velar stop or fricative has been attested in many languages of the Qiangic area. Although Tibetan forms may be used for all numerals, native forms up to 99 have been attested in Darmdo Minyag. The influence of Tibetan on cardinal and ordinal numerals, approximate, multiple and fractional numbers is noted as well. Darmdo Minyag has a rich inventory of sortal and mensural classifiers. Shape is the most important feature according to which nouns are categorized. Mensural classifiers may be divided into arrangement classifiers and units of measure. Units of measure are of two types: the first acts as a classifier, the second type is a [noun numeral+classifier] construction. Darmdo Minyag has two types of verbal action classifiers: several verbal action classifiers of unknown origin which modify semantically rich verbs, and numeral-verb combinations which modify a semantically empty verb. The main functions of classifiers are classification and individualization.