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Copula functions in a cross-Sinitic perspective

  • Dawei Jin ORCID logo EMAIL logo
Published/Copyright: April 18, 2020
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Abstract

This paper investigates the distinct functions associated with the copula morpheme and their distribution across Sinitic languages. Based on fieldwork on five Sinitic languages, an empirical generalization will be presented regarding the scope and variation of copular multifunctionality. Specifically, language-specific variation is witnessed in topic and conditional marking as well as verum marking. Conversely, it is found that Sinitic languages converge on employing the copula in constructions expressing phrasal and clausal level focus. The paper further explores whether these copular constructions should receive a uniform syntax, or should be conceived of as having a set of underlaid heterogeneous structures.

Acknowledgements

I am indebted to the two anonymous reviewers of Folia Linguistica as well as the editors Olga Fischer and Sune Gregersen for helping to improve my paper. During the various stages of the preparation of this manuscript, I have received valuable input and help from Jun Chen, Zhenyu Chen, Marcel den Dikken, Chengru Dong, Yimin Sheng, Liyong Wang, Jianfeng Wu, Lihua Xu and Ryan Zhang, as well as audiences at the 2017 NACCL conference at Rutgers University and the 2017 IACL conference at Eötvös Loránd University Budapest. Significant assistance has been provided during my fieldwork by Yuanhang Xiong, for whom I am deeply grateful. This research is supported by the grant of Shanghai Pujiang Program (17PJC060). Needless to say, all the remaining errors are my own.

Abbreviations

adv

= adverbial

clf

= classifier

cond

= conditional marker

cop

= copula

de

= nominalizing/adnominal particle

decl

= declarative

dem

= demonstrative

hen

= generalized intensifier

loc

= locative

mod

= modal

neg

= negation morpheme

poss

= possessive

prf

= perfective aspect marker

prt

= particle

pst

= past tense

q

= question particle

rel

= relativizer

res

= resultative

top

= topic

Appendix: Information on consultants

The following table provides information about the age, locality, occupation and gender of the consultants for each of the dialect spot surveyed.

Language (dialect spot)No. of consultantsAgeResidenceOccupationGender
Hong Kong Cantonese 5 23–33 Shum1 Shui2 Po6 District Student male (3)

female (2)
Fǔzhōu Gan 3 23–24 Línchuān District Student male (2)

female (1)
Wùyuán Hui 3 33–66 Jiāngwān Town Tea shop owner and shop assistant male (1)

female (2)
Bīnyáng Pinghua 2 36–46 Dàqiáo Town Hotelier female (2)

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Received: 2019-05-10
Received: 2019-11-05
Revised: 2019-09-25
Accepted: 2019-11-13
Published Online: 2020-04-18
Published in Print: 2020-04-26

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