The development of the Chinese scalar additive coordinators derived from prohibitives
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Bin Zhu
Abstract
In this paper, we trace from a constructionist perspective the diachronic development of the Chinese scalar additive coordinators meaning roughly ‘let alone’ derived from a prohibitive expression ‘don’t say’. We argue that a construction schema formed by the combination of a prohibitive marker with a SAY verb conveying the scalar additive meaning may have been established in Ancient Chinese. This construction schema analogically sanctioned more forms of such pattern into scalar additive coordinators over time, including biéshuō in Contemporary Chinese. The development of the scalar additive coordinators derived from the prohibitives is more likely to be considered as a case of constructionalization. Crucially, it is the entire construction that has spread over time. The present study demonstrates that prohibitives can also serve clause combining functions.
Abstract
In this paper, we trace from a constructionist perspective the diachronic development of the Chinese scalar additive coordinators meaning roughly ‘let alone’ derived from a prohibitive expression ‘don’t say’. We argue that a construction schema formed by the combination of a prohibitive marker with a SAY verb conveying the scalar additive meaning may have been established in Ancient Chinese. This construction schema analogically sanctioned more forms of such pattern into scalar additive coordinators over time, including biéshuō in Contemporary Chinese. The development of the scalar additive coordinators derived from the prohibitives is more likely to be considered as a case of constructionalization. Crucially, it is the entire construction that has spread over time. The present study demonstrates that prohibitives can also serve clause combining functions.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
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Part 1. General issues
- Are there two different ways of approaching grammaticalization? 23
- Functional similarity despite geographical distance 55
- Analogy 75
- Central Southern Guangxi as a grammaticalization area 105
- Grammaticalizing connectives in English and discourse information structure 135
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Part 2. Case studies
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The noun phrase
- The grammaticalization of interrogative pronouns into relative pronouns in South-Caucasian languages 163
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The verbal phrase
- From time to surprise 185
- C-gravitation and the grammaticalization degree of “present progressives” in English, French, and Dutch 207
- The avertive and proximative grams in Maltese using the auxiliary għodd 231
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Discourse markers
- Pragmatic uses of nu in Old Saxon and Old English 259
- (Inter)subjectification and paradigmaticization 291
- The development of three classifiers into degree modifier constructions in Chinese 315
- From the inside to the outside of the sentence 333
- The development of the Chinese scalar additive coordinators derived from prohibitives 361
- Cross-varietal diversity in constructional entrenchment 381
- Index 431
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
-
Part 1. General issues
- Are there two different ways of approaching grammaticalization? 23
- Functional similarity despite geographical distance 55
- Analogy 75
- Central Southern Guangxi as a grammaticalization area 105
- Grammaticalizing connectives in English and discourse information structure 135
-
Part 2. Case studies
-
The noun phrase
- The grammaticalization of interrogative pronouns into relative pronouns in South-Caucasian languages 163
-
The verbal phrase
- From time to surprise 185
- C-gravitation and the grammaticalization degree of “present progressives” in English, French, and Dutch 207
- The avertive and proximative grams in Maltese using the auxiliary għodd 231
-
Discourse markers
- Pragmatic uses of nu in Old Saxon and Old English 259
- (Inter)subjectification and paradigmaticization 291
- The development of three classifiers into degree modifier constructions in Chinese 315
- From the inside to the outside of the sentence 333
- The development of the Chinese scalar additive coordinators derived from prohibitives 361
- Cross-varietal diversity in constructional entrenchment 381
- Index 431
