Words with this range of meaning are simply called ‘noun classifiers’ in linguistics [0]. They’re pretty common both in the region and outside it: they’re also

Words with this range of meaning are simply called ‘noun classifiers’ in linguistics [0]. They’re pretty common both in the region and outside it: they’re also in Lao, Hmong and Minangkabau, as well as various Australian, Mayan and South American languages. [0] Aikhenvald 2003, chapeter 3: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/classifiers-9780199264667?q=aikhenvald%20classifiers&lang=en&cc=au https://global.oup.com/academic/product/classifiers-97801992...