A CONTRASTIVE ANALYSIS OF CLASSIFIERS IN PERSIAN LANGUAGE

Considering the semantic-based criterion definition of classifiers proposed by Allan (1977, p. 285), classifiers have meanings, in the sense that a classifier denotes some salient perceived or imputed characteristic of the entity to which an associated noun refers (or may refer). Many authors conducted a number of studies to determine salient characteristic of the classifiers in their own language. This study aimed to analyze Persian classifiers semantically on the basis of Croft’s (1994) framework. First, the Persian classifiers were divided into two major groups as mensural and sortal. Later on, the classification of animate and inanimate, human and non-human were considered within classifiers. The results of the study may facilitate teaching vocabulary and grammar through using first language. This could also help English language teachers find out the transferring problems of Iranian learners when they want to convert the Persian classifiers into English.