Non-veridical kaN in Taiwanese Southern Min
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Shu-ing Shyu
Abstract
In the study of kaN (敢gan3 in Mandarin Chinese written form) in Taiwanese Southern Min, previous studies have largely focused on the interrogative kám sentences. This paper, however, shows a comprehensive picture when taking into consideration of the allomorph kánn in declarative sentences, and the diachronic development of kaN. Specifically, we propose that kaN functions as a non-veridical operator, whose clause type feature needs to be valued in IntP, thus deriving either a [+Q] (kám) or [-Q] (kánn) sentence. Moreover, various kaN sentence types are derived contingent on the interface criteria: (i) syntax (clause type feature valuation), (ii) inquisitive semantics of kaN: the epistemic use of kánn and sī ‘be’, and (iii) speaker’s intentionality/supposition in the speech act domain.
Abstract
In the study of kaN (敢gan3 in Mandarin Chinese written form) in Taiwanese Southern Min, previous studies have largely focused on the interrogative kám sentences. This paper, however, shows a comprehensive picture when taking into consideration of the allomorph kánn in declarative sentences, and the diachronic development of kaN. Specifically, we propose that kaN functions as a non-veridical operator, whose clause type feature needs to be valued in IntP, thus deriving either a [+Q] (kám) or [-Q] (kánn) sentence. Moreover, various kaN sentence types are derived contingent on the interface criteria: (i) syntax (clause type feature valuation), (ii) inquisitive semantics of kaN: the epistemic use of kánn and sī ‘be’, and (iii) speaker’s intentionality/supposition in the speech act domain.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
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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
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Part II. Modal verb syntax
- Modal movement licensed by focus 165
- Negative modals and prohibitives in Taiwanese Southern Min 193
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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
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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
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Part V. Acquisition of syntactic structures
- V- gei vs. double object construction 539
- Predicting the unpredictable 555
- Index 575
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- 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
