Emergence of the indefinite article
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Mei-chun Liu
Abstract
This study explores the grammaticalization of a frequently used numeral classifier yige into a marker of indefiniteness in spoken Taiwan Mandarin. Naturally-occurring data show that yige is frequently used to introduce a newly-mentioned but unfamiliar referent into the discourse and its distribution goes beyond the typical boundary of a numeral classifier. Yige may occur with NPs that do not require number or class marking, such as proper names, abstract, non-referring, and even plural nouns. It is suggested that yige is functionally overgeneralized and realigned with a new grammatical status in marking indefinite referentiality. Just like Huang (1999) argues that the distal demonstrative nage ‘that’ is becoming a definite article, this paper argues that the indefinite article yige is also emerging in Mandarin.Emergence of the indefinite article: Discourse evidence for the grammaticalization of yige in spoken Mandarin.
Abstract
This study explores the grammaticalization of a frequently used numeral classifier yige into a marker of indefiniteness in spoken Taiwan Mandarin. Naturally-occurring data show that yige is frequently used to introduce a newly-mentioned but unfamiliar referent into the discourse and its distribution goes beyond the typical boundary of a numeral classifier. Yige may occur with NPs that do not require number or class marking, such as proper names, abstract, non-referring, and even plural nouns. It is suggested that yige is functionally overgeneralized and realigned with a new grammatical status in marking indefinite referentiality. Just like Huang (1999) argues that the distal demonstrative nage ‘that’ is becoming a definite article, this paper argues that the indefinite article yige is also emerging in Mandarin.Emergence of the indefinite article: Discourse evidence for the grammaticalization of yige in spoken Mandarin.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements vii
- Introduction 1
- On problem areas in grammaticalization 17
- Grammaticalization within and outside of a domain 43
- Delexicalizing di 63
- Should conditionals be emergent … 93
- From manner expression to attitudinal discourse marker 137
- Grammaticalization and lexicalization effects in participial morphology 191
- Frequency as a cause of semantic change 225
- The role of frequency and prosody in the grammaticalization of Korean -canh- 245
- Emergence of the indefinite article 275
- To dare to or not to 289
- Author index 327
- Index of languages and language families 331
- Subject index 333
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgements vii
- Introduction 1
- On problem areas in grammaticalization 17
- Grammaticalization within and outside of a domain 43
- Delexicalizing di 63
- Should conditionals be emergent … 93
- From manner expression to attitudinal discourse marker 137
- Grammaticalization and lexicalization effects in participial morphology 191
- Frequency as a cause of semantic change 225
- The role of frequency and prosody in the grammaticalization of Korean -canh- 245
- Emergence of the indefinite article 275
- To dare to or not to 289
- Author index 327
- Index of languages and language families 331
- Subject index 333
