Classifier Constructions in Southeast Asia

This study attempts to provide information on areal linguistic phenomena in Southeast Asia. The choice of classifier constructions stems from the work of Haas, and from a similar study of India, by Emeneau. Here the nuclear constructions, including expansions for adjectivals and deitics, are compared from a wide variety of Southeast Asian languages and Chinese. On the basis of these comparisons, including some historical perspective, three major linguistic areas are tentatively defined. The suggestion is also made of a more extensive Thai influence than previously supposed.