Numeral Quantifiers: NP Modifiers and Relational Quantity Nominals

Abstract

Numeral quantifiers composed of the number and the classifier can either precede or follow nouns in Korean. This paper examines these prenominal and postnominal numeral quantifier constructions and argues that they have different structures. I propose that the numeral quantifier is an NP modifier of type <<e, t>, <e, t>> in the prenominal quantifier construction, while it is a relational quantity nominal of type <e, <e, t>> taking the associated DP as its argument and forcing a monotonic interpretation in the postnominal quantifier construction. This analysis provides an account for a number of properties of numeral quantifier constructions that appear to be problematic for an alternative approach using movement which is perhaps most familiar way of dealing with prenominal and postnominal quantifier constructions.