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Numeral Quantifiers (hearafter NQs) in Japanese are composed of a numeral and a numerative (or an auxiliary numeral). For example, ni-satsu(: two-Classifier for book) is composed of a numeral ni and a numerative satsu. I discuss the relation between an NQ and its host NP in terms of a numeratives forming the former, and classify numeratives into three categories as follows. Couning- Classifiers constitute Kitahara's(1996) Individual NQs (ni-satsu) which count objects discretely, Measurers his Content NQs(ni-guramu: two-grams)which measures objects or a continuum as a mass, and Counters-cum-Measures Group NQs (ni-hako(no ringo): two boxes (of apples)) which have properties of both Individual and Content NQs. Finally, I propose that most of Group NQs as Individual NQs be analyzed into a numeral and a noun. In Japanese, one of the classifier languages, there are numeral expressions similar to ones such as three books in English, one of the non- classifier languages. |