This analysis sets out to specifically discuss the polyfunctionality of 跟 [kai55] in Waxiang (S... more This analysis sets out to specifically discuss the polyfunctionality of 跟 [kai55] in Waxiang (Sinitic), whose lexical source is the verb ‘to follow’. Amongst its various uses, we find that of a preposition ‘with, along’, a marker of adjuncts and a NP conjunction, thus superficially resembling its Mandarin cognate gēn跟 ‘with’. Curiously, however, it has also evolved into a direct object marker in Waxiang, with a function similar to that of preposition bă 把 < ‘hold, take’ as found in the ‘disposal’ S–bă–O–V construction of standard Mandarin. The pathways of grammaticalization for 跟 [kai55] in Waxiang are thus discussed in order to determine how it has developed this unusual grammatical function in one of the linguistic zones of China where verbs of giving or taking are, in fact, the main source for grammaticalized object markers in disposal constructions.
On the basis of 16th and 17th century Southern Min literature (Sinitic), a comparison is also made with analogous developments for comitative共 gòng ‘with’ to provide support for our argument that the direct object marking use has evolved from the oblique function of a benefactive or dative, and is clearly separate from the crosslinguistically well-attested pathway that leads to its use as a conjunction.
Waxiang is an as yet unclassified Sinitic language spoken in a remote mountainous area of western Hunan in China. It has developed in an unusual contact situation, surrounded by genetically unrelated languages, such as Hmong and Tujia, retaining many highly conservative features. In the contemporary situation, most Waxiang speakers speak both their own language as well as Southwestern Mandarin.
This analysis sets out to specifically discuss the polyfunctionality of [kai(55)] in Waxiang (Sin... more This analysis sets out to specifically discuss the polyfunctionality of [kai(55)] in Waxiang (Sinitic), whose lexical source is the verb 'to follow'. Amongst its various uses, we find a preposition 'with, along', a marker of adjuncts and a NP conjunction, thus superficially resembling its Mandarin cognate gēn 'with'. Curiously, however, it has also evolved into a direct object marker in Waxiang, with a function similar to that of preposition bă < 'hold, take' as found in the S-bă-O-VP or so-called 'disposal' form in standard Mandarin. The pathways of grammaticalization for [kai(55)] in Waxiang are thus discussed in order to determine how it has developed this unusual grammatical function in one of the linguistic zones of China where verbs of giving or taking are, in fact, the main source for grammaticalized object markers in 'disposal' constructions. On the basis of 16(th) and 17(th) century Southern Min literature (Sinitic), a comp...
... I thank my colleagues there who provided me with an excellent research environment and gave h... more ... I thank my colleagues there who provided me with an excellent research environment and gave helpful comments on my draft. I especially thank Professor Laurent Sagart and Professor Redouane Djamouri for their scholarly advice and friendship. ...
This analysis sets out to specifically discuss the polyfunctionality of 跟 [kai55] in Waxiang (S... more This analysis sets out to specifically discuss the polyfunctionality of 跟 [kai55] in Waxiang (Sinitic), whose lexical source is the verb ‘to follow’. Amongst its various uses, we find that of a preposition ‘with, along’, a marker of adjuncts and a NP conjunction, thus superficially resembling its Mandarin cognate gēn跟 ‘with’. Curiously, however, it has also evolved into a direct object marker in Waxiang, with a function similar to that of preposition bă 把 < ‘hold, take’ as found in the ‘disposal’ S–bă–O–V construction of standard Mandarin. The pathways of grammaticalization for 跟 [kai55] in Waxiang are thus discussed in order to determine how it has developed this unusual grammatical function in one of the linguistic zones of China where verbs of giving or taking are, in fact, the main source for grammaticalized object markers in disposal constructions.
On the basis of 16th and 17th century Southern Min literature (Sinitic), a comparison is also made with analogous developments for comitative共 gòng ‘with’ to provide support for our argument that the direct object marking use has evolved from the oblique function of a benefactive or dative, and is clearly separate from the crosslinguistically well-attested pathway that leads to its use as a conjunction.
Waxiang is an as yet unclassified Sinitic language spoken in a remote mountainous area of western Hunan in China. It has developed in an unusual contact situation, surrounded by genetically unrelated languages, such as Hmong and Tujia, retaining many highly conservative features. In the contemporary situation, most Waxiang speakers speak both their own language as well as Southwestern Mandarin.
This analysis sets out to specifically discuss the polyfunctionality of [kai(55)] in Waxiang (Sin... more This analysis sets out to specifically discuss the polyfunctionality of [kai(55)] in Waxiang (Sinitic), whose lexical source is the verb 'to follow'. Amongst its various uses, we find a preposition 'with, along', a marker of adjuncts and a NP conjunction, thus superficially resembling its Mandarin cognate gēn 'with'. Curiously, however, it has also evolved into a direct object marker in Waxiang, with a function similar to that of preposition bă < 'hold, take' as found in the S-bă-O-VP or so-called 'disposal' form in standard Mandarin. The pathways of grammaticalization for [kai(55)] in Waxiang are thus discussed in order to determine how it has developed this unusual grammatical function in one of the linguistic zones of China where verbs of giving or taking are, in fact, the main source for grammaticalized object markers in 'disposal' constructions. On the basis of 16(th) and 17(th) century Southern Min literature (Sinitic), a comp...
... I thank my colleagues there who provided me with an excellent research environment and gave h... more ... I thank my colleagues there who provided me with an excellent research environment and gave helpful comments on my draft. I especially thank Professor Laurent Sagart and Professor Redouane Djamouri for their scholarly advice and friendship. ...
Uploads
Books by Yunji Wu
Papers by Yunji Wu
On the basis of 16th and 17th century Southern Min literature (Sinitic), a comparison is also made with analogous developments for comitative共 gòng ‘with’ to provide support for our argument that the direct object marking use has evolved from the oblique function of a benefactive or dative, and is clearly separate from the crosslinguistically well-attested pathway that leads to its use as a conjunction.
Waxiang is an as yet unclassified Sinitic language spoken in a remote mountainous area of western Hunan in China. It has developed in an unusual contact situation, surrounded by genetically unrelated languages, such as Hmong and Tujia, retaining many highly conservative features. In the contemporary situation, most Waxiang speakers speak both their own language as well as Southwestern Mandarin.
On the basis of 16th and 17th century Southern Min literature (Sinitic), a comparison is also made with analogous developments for comitative共 gòng ‘with’ to provide support for our argument that the direct object marking use has evolved from the oblique function of a benefactive or dative, and is clearly separate from the crosslinguistically well-attested pathway that leads to its use as a conjunction.
Waxiang is an as yet unclassified Sinitic language spoken in a remote mountainous area of western Hunan in China. It has developed in an unusual contact situation, surrounded by genetically unrelated languages, such as Hmong and Tujia, retaining many highly conservative features. In the contemporary situation, most Waxiang speakers speak both their own language as well as Southwestern Mandarin.