Abstract
This thesis attempts to discuss the classifiers of Hai-lu Hakka in the views of interactive approach. By so doing, we found the classificatory system is by no means arbitrary, absolute and have unbreakable category boundaries. On the contrary, we can expect reasonable and systematic explanations from the interaction types between the humans and the world. The language classification is flexible, dynamic, and cognitively-motivated.From the collected data analyzed within the interactive viewpoints, we discovered that there are four most frequently exploited classifiers in Hai-lu Hakka- two one-dimensionally salient classifiers tiau55(條) and ki(枝), two dimensionally salient classifier tso□53(張), and three dimensionally salient classifier tsak5(隻), all of which are configurationally shape-related. Our findings show that not only can they classify shapes in resemblance but they can also functionally classify objects in the same experience domain by metaphors and metonyms, two basic strategies to language change and concept elaboration. This ‘coincidence’ is not haphazard but cognitively motivated, which are the prototypical classification device. Another less prototypical classification device is uses of non-configurationally shape classifiers, whose distribution is confined to the functional classification. Finally the non-shaped classifiers are more distributionally confined because they are all from social or cultural stereotypes; in Lakeoff (1986) terms they are ‘jump conclusions,’ whose reasoning and motivation are relatively weak.Owning to the need to produce easily and learn quickly, on the other end of the fine noun sub-categorization is the simple and general classifier, used to classify every noun and usually comes from the most frequently used classifier. This point made apply well to Hakka. The mostly used classifier 隻 tsak5 for almost every noun is the general classifier, which is used excessively in the child and daily conversation. This demonstrates there is a balance between comprehension and production in communication. In addition, it also shows us how the concepts can be used and changed in language.