Adjectives: Classifiers

Classifiers: 'academic' adjectives

Unlike descriptors, classifiers do not have primarily a descriptive function. Instead, the function of these adjectives is to make the whole noun phrase more specific; to restrict the frame of reference. They do this by assigning the head noun to a:

• class: "secondary education" - This restricts the type of education under consideration; it's not primary or tertiary;
• part of a cline: "initial conditions" - The conditions at the beginning; not the middle or the end;
• particular group (already mentioned or generally understood): the "previous year" - Excludes all other years;
• particular group specifically mentioned in the text: the "following example" - The example which follows in the text;
• group which obviously excludes another, related one: the "public sector" - As opposed to the private sector;
• group to which only particular people may be a part: "Chinese students" - only students whose nationality is Chinese;
• particular topic or area of interest: "chemical analysis" - Not statistical, economic or any other type of analysis.

Unlike descriptors, classifiers are usually non-gradable. In fact, with the possible exception of "public", none of the above examples are gradable.

Classifiers (especially relational and topical classifiers) are very common in academic writing, much more common than descriptors.

Classifiers are usually sub-classified thus:

1. Restrictive/classificational/relational: basic, common, different, empty, entire, external, final, following, full, general, individual, initial, intermediate, internal, main, major, particular, primary, rural, same, secondary, similar, specific, total, urban, various, whole;
2. Affiliative: American, British, Chinese, Danish, French, ....;
3. Topical/General: chemical, commercial, environmental, human, industrial, legal, local, medical, mental, natural, normal, oral, physical, political, public, sexual, social, visual;

Some of these classifiers may also be used as descriptors depending on their use in context.

Examples

• Honey bees and bumblebees are both socialadjective (topical classifier) bee speciesnoun phrase. (Zehnder 2020)
  
  In this sentence there is just one adjective: "social". It is an attributiveAn adjective which is used before a noun. adjective (preceding the noun) and it is a topical classifier.
• Pictures are created by basicadjective (relational classifier) unitsnoun phrase head called pixels. (Weitzen 2022)
  
  In this sentence there is just one adjective: "basic". It is an attributiveAn adjective which is used before a noun. adjective and it is a relational classifier. The head noun is "units" and it is postmodified with an ed-clause.
• Additionally, we’re the only animal that expresses thoughts in fulladjective (restrictive classifier) sentencesnoun phrase head. (Futrell 2022)
  
  In this sentence there is just one adjective: "full". It is an attributive adjective and it is a restrictive classifier.
• Humanadjective (topical classifier) eyesightnoun phrase head is designed for daylight. (Buscha 2023)
  
  In this sentence there is just one adjective: "Human". It is an attributive adjective and it is a topical classifier.
• Emotionaladjective (topical classifier) self-regulationnoun phrase head and striving for permanentadjective (relational classifier) internaladjective (relational classifier) equanimitynoun phrase head are two very differentadjective (relational classifier) thingsnoun phrase head. (Durrant 2023)
  
  In this sentence there are four adjectives: "emotional", "permanent", "internal", and "different". "Emotional" is a topical classifier: the others are relational.