Sortal numeral classifiers
Appearing between the numeral and noun, sortal numeral classifiers provide numeral constructions with additional grammatical, rather than semantic, information.1 These words may serve the sortal numeral classifier function alone (specific), or they may be independent nouns as well (nonspecific).2 Their use is either optional or required.
Types:
NoClsfr: Sortal numeral classifiers do not exist in the language.
OblClsfrSpec: Sortal numeral classifiers are required in numeral constructions, and their use is limited to this function.
OblClsfrNonspec: Sortal numeral classifiers are required in numeral constructions, and their use is not limited to this function.
OptClsfrSpec: Sortal numeral classifiers are optional in numeral constructions, and their use is limited to this function.
OptClsfrNonspec: Sortal numeral classifiers are optional in numeral constructions, and their use is not limited to this function.
1: Compare to mensural numeral classifiers, which provide additional semantic information, such as a glass of water.
2: In the latter case, the sortal numeral classifier may appear before the same lexeme as a noun, as in the Indonesian se orang orang ‘a person.’