Classifiers and Definiteness in Longdu (Min Chinese)
| dc.contributor.author | Sio, Joanna Ut-Seong | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2024-01-30T21:44:51Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2024-01-30T21:44:51Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2024-01-29 | |
| dc.description.abstract | This study examines a pair of classifiers in Longdu which show overt definiteness marking. In Longdu, the classifier pair nɛɪː¹¹ and ɑ⁵⁵ gives rise to an indefinite and a definite interpretation respectively. This pair of classifiers is compatible with nouns that denote discrete entities (e.g., apples) or homogeneous substances (e.g., water). The resulting [CLF - N] phrase expresses an accumulation of entities or substances with an underspecified number or amount. I call them ‘fuzzy’ classifiers, referring to the lack of precise quantity specification. The explicit definiteness marking in this pair of ‘fuzzy’ classifiers provides a valuable glimpse into the definiteness of classifiers when embedded in different kinds of nominal phrases. I present data showing that the indefinite and definite fuzzy classifiers in Longdu have different properties with respect to the licensing of NP-ellipsis, reduplication, and modification. Only the indefinite fuzzy classifier can license NP-ellipsis and reduplicate, while only the definite fuzzy classifier can appear in a [bare modifier - CLF - N] phrase. I will present evidence which suggests that the presence of two kinds of classifiers with definiteness contrast can be a phenomenon that spans over other Chinese varieties. All Longdu data presented here were gathered in my own fieldwork. | |
| dc.format.extent | 18 pages | |
| dc.identifier.issn | 1836-6821 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/10524/52520 | |
| dc.subject | classifiers | |
| dc.subject | definiteness | |
| dc.subject | Min Chinese | |
| dc.subject.languagecode | zld (proposed) | |
| dc.subject.languagecode | yue | |
| dc.subject.languagecode | cmn | |
| dc.title | Classifiers and Definiteness in Longdu (Min Chinese) | |
| dc.type | Research article | |
| dc.type.dcmi | Text | |
| dspace.entity.type | ||
| prism.endingpage | 18 | |
| prism.number | 1 | |
| prism.publicationname | Journal of the Southeast Asian Linguistics Society | |
| prism.startingpage | 1 | |
| prism.volume | 17 |
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