Another onomasiological method of producing linguistic data relies on the conversion of certain functional concepts and operations into a questionnaire. Ideally, such a questionnaire is subdivided according to functional domains such as Concept Formation, Reference, Determination, possession, Spatial Orientation, Participation etc. Each domain is spelled out down to the level of typological grammatical categories.
For instance, in the domain of Individuation, subdomain of Measuring, it may be asked whether the language makes a grammatical distinction between such concrete entities which are conceived as individuals and such concrete entities which are conceived as masses. If there is such a grammatical category, it may then be named 'count noun' vs. 'mass noun'.
If the question is formulated at a metalinguistic level, as the example just given, then it can only be understood and answered by a trained linguist. In order to collect relevant data, the linguist will have to operationalize such questions. One way of doing this aims at classifying linguistic expressions according to their behavior in criterial contexts. If the classification is accompanied by clear grammaticality judgements, then the classes are grammatical classes. To this purpose, the criterial context is specified in test frames in which expressions of the object language have to be inserted. For instance, individual nouns can be pluralized (S1.b) and can be combined with an indefinite article (a), with a numeral (c) or with certain quantifiers (d). On this basis, test frames as in S1 may be constructed.
| a. | A | __ | has arrived. | ||
| b. | The | ||||
| c. | Three | } | __ | s have arrived. | |
| d. | Many / few / some |
Similarly, mass nouns can be combined with a mensurative (S2.a) or with certain other quantifiers (b), and this may be codified in test frames such as S2.
| a. | Three kilos of | __ | have arrived. | |
| b. | Much / little / some | __ | has arrived. |
The test frames are to be translated into the target language, obviously with appropriate modifications. Then the noun whose individuality is to be tested is inserted in the slots of S1 and S2. If S1 is good and S2 bad, the noun is a count noun; if the result is the reverse, it is a mass noun.
For instance, English salt shaker in S1 yields grammatical sentences, but in S2, it yields ungrammatical sentences. Consequently, it is a count noun. English salt in S1 yields ungrammatical sentences, while in S2, it yields grammatical sentences. Consequently, it is a mass noun.