TY - CHAP
T1 - Emergence of the indefinite article
T2 - Discourse evidence for the grammaticalization of yige in spoken Mandarin
AU - Liu, Mei-chun
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
U2 - 10.1075/tsl.94.10liu
DO - 10.1075/tsl.94.10liu
M3 - RGC 12 - Chapter in an edited book (Author)
SN - 9789027206756
T3 - Typological Studies in Language
SP - 275
EP - 288
BT - Formal Evidence in Grammaticalization Research
A2 - Linden, An Van
A2 - Verstraete, Jean-Christophe
A2 - Davidse, Kristin
PB - John Benjamins Publishing Company
ER -