This study investigates the internal structure of noun phrases In Chinese and argues that number, referentiality, and totality/partitivity are all syntactically represented. Viewing number in
a new light, it claims that number in a classifier language is syntactically encoded via the use of a $P, i.e., NumP, the head of which is occupied by a classifier/massifier (cf. Boer
2005).
Plurality Is realized differently in a #P via the use of numerals, the plural classifier xie, quantifiers, or the reduplication of classifiers/massiflers. The plural marker-men is a
derivational suffix marking either collective plurality or semantic plurality, resolving the problem that syntactic plurality may co-occur with semantic plurality when syntactic plurality marks
an indeterminate quantity.