Negative modals and prohibitives in Taiwanese Southern Min
-
Wei-wen Roger Liao
Abstract
The paper discusses two types of negative modal particles found in prohibitives in Taiwanese Southern Min (TSM) – m-modals and b-modals. What distinguishes the two types of modals, we argue, is whether they are used in a descriptive or a directive/performative way. The m-modals are always used in a directive way, meaning that they represent prohibition issued by the (reported) speaker. The b-modals, on the other hand, are used in a descriptive way, where the speaker simply reports a prohibition from an external source. The finding supports the modalized theory of imperatives. Syntactically, we argue that the m-modal particle is best analyzed as a modal complementizer that manifests a logophoric control relation.
Abstract
The paper discusses two types of negative modal particles found in prohibitives in Taiwanese Southern Min (TSM) – m-modals and b-modals. What distinguishes the two types of modals, we argue, is whether they are used in a descriptive or a directive/performative way. The m-modals are always used in a directive way, meaning that they represent prohibition issued by the (reported) speaker. The b-modals, on the other hand, are used in a descriptive way, where the speaker simply reports a prohibition from an external source. The finding supports the modalized theory of imperatives. Syntactically, we argue that the m-modal particle is best analyzed as a modal complementizer that manifests a logophoric control relation.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
-
Part I. The structure of lexical and functional projections
- Finiteness, opacity, and Chinese clausal architecture 17
- Place and distance 77
- “Descriptive complements” are manner adverbials 111
- SVCs in disguise 133
-
Part II. Modal verb syntax
- Modal movement licensed by focus 165
- Negative modals and prohibitives in Taiwanese Southern Min 193
-
Part III. Syntax-semantics interactions
- Skolemized topicality for indefinites and universal quantifier mei -phrases in Chinese 219
- Chinese comparatives 249
- Head dependency and degree words in Mandarin 293
- Constraints on the representation of anaphoric definiteness in Mandarin Chinese 301
- Noncanonical arguments via the high applicative 331
- Applied objects in Mandarin and the nature of selection 357
- On the syntax of incompleteness 395
-
Part IV. The syntax and interpretation of particles
- On the syntax of mirativity 431
- On the mirative marker leh 4 in Taiwanese Southern Min 445
- Non-veridical kaN in Taiwanese Southern Min 479
- Sentence-internal discourse particles in Mandarin Chinese 509
-
Part V. Acquisition of syntactic structures
- V- gei vs. double object construction 539
- Predicting the unpredictable 555
- Index 575
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
-
Part I. The structure of lexical and functional projections
- Finiteness, opacity, and Chinese clausal architecture 17
- Place and distance 77
- “Descriptive complements” are manner adverbials 111
- SVCs in disguise 133
-
Part II. Modal verb syntax
- Modal movement licensed by focus 165
- Negative modals and prohibitives in Taiwanese Southern Min 193
-
Part III. Syntax-semantics interactions
- Skolemized topicality for indefinites and universal quantifier mei -phrases in Chinese 219
- Chinese comparatives 249
- Head dependency and degree words in Mandarin 293
- Constraints on the representation of anaphoric definiteness in Mandarin Chinese 301
- Noncanonical arguments via the high applicative 331
- Applied objects in Mandarin and the nature of selection 357
- On the syntax of incompleteness 395
-
Part IV. The syntax and interpretation of particles
- On the syntax of mirativity 431
- On the mirative marker leh 4 in Taiwanese Southern Min 445
- Non-veridical kaN in Taiwanese Southern Min 479
- Sentence-internal discourse particles in Mandarin Chinese 509
-
Part V. Acquisition of syntactic structures
- V- gei vs. double object construction 539
- Predicting the unpredictable 555
- Index 575
