Focus and Background Marking in Mandarin

This is an investigation into the grammaticalized system of focus-background agreement in Mandarin Chinese. The particlescai, jiu, dou and yeare in a specific use type, shown to form the core of a highly systematic paradigm. Foci agree with their backgrounds, with the particles being the agreement markers. The semantic categories involved are different types of quantification over alternatives: all alternatives may be true, or some, or not all, or none. This minimal semantics is capable of explaining the use ofcai, jiu, dou and ye and two moreparticles (hai and zai) in various contexts that have figured in controversial debates over the past three decades. This book is not just a valuable companion for anyone interested in core aspects of Mandarin Chinese grammar, it caters for the interests of theoretical linguists as well as for linguists from other fields with an interest in information structure, focus and contrastive topics, and quantification. The outstandingcharacteristics of this book, viz. its effortless integration of findings from formal semantics without heavy formal load, makes it rewarding reading for both linguists with a less formal background, and for researchers with some knowledge of formal semantics.

Daniel P. Hole is as an assistant lecturer at the University of Munich.

Tables and Figures

viii

Acknowledgments

ix

Abbreviations/Conventions

xi

1 INTRODUCTION

1

(12)

1.1 Parallel only-worlds and other problems

1

(3)

1.2 Focus-background structures

4

(4)

1.3 Alternatives

8

(1)

1.4 Data

9

(1)

1.5 Organization of chapters/How to use this study

9

(4)

2 USE TYPES

13

(36)

2.1 Use types of cái

14

(5)

2.1.1 The parametric use type of cái

14

(2)

2.1.2 The modal use type of cái

16

(1)

2.1.3 The aspectual use type of cái

17

(1)

2.1.4 The emphatic use type of cái

18

(1)

2.2 Use types of jiù

19

(10)

2.2.1 The parametric use type of jiù

19

(6)

2.2.2 The modal use type of jiù

25

(1)

2.2.3 The aspectual use type of jiù

26

(1)

2.2.4 The emphatic use type of jiù

26

(1)

2.2.5 The focusing use type of jiù

27

(2)

2.2.6 Other use types of jiù

29

(1)

2.3 Use types of dou

29

(8)

2.3.1 The parametric use type of dou

29

(5)

2.3.2 The distributive use type of dou

34

(1)

2.3.3 The emphatic use type of dou

35

(2)

2.4 Use types of ye

37

(7)

2.4.1 The parametric use type of ye

37

(4)

2.4.2 The emphatic use type of ye

41

(1)

2.4.3 The focusing use type of ye

42

(2)

2.4.4 Other use types of ye

44

(1)

2.5 Parametric cái, jiù, dou and ye as independent linguistic signs

44

(3)

2.6 Overview of classifications

47

(2)

3 TRIGGERS AND CONSTRAINTS: WHERE PARAMETRIC

CÁI, JIÙ, WU AND YE MUST (NOT) BE USED

49

(60)

3.1 Triggers and constraints: parametric cái

50

(18)

3.1.1 Where parametric cái must be used

50

(2)

3.1.2 Factors constraining the use of parametric cái

52

(16)

3.2 Triggers and constraints: parametric jiù

68

(7)

3.2.1 Where parametric must be used

68

(4)

3.2.2 Factors constraining the use of parametric jiù

72

(3)

3.3 Triggers and constraints: parametric dou and parametric ye

75

(17)

3.3.1 The relative position of parametric dou/ye and their interacting foci or wh-words

75

(8)

3.3.2 Where parametric dou or ye must be used: towards the generalization

83

(2)

3.3.3 Specific generalizations in limited contexts

85

(6)

3.3.4 Triggers and constraints in contrast: parametric dou vs. parametric ye

91

(1)

3.4 The categorization problem: cái, jiù, dou and ye as agreement particles

92

(11)

3.4.1 Previous categorial assignments

92

(5)

3.4.2 Parametric particles as focus-background agreement markers

97

(6)

3.5 Revisiting the non-prototypical cases

103

(6)

4 CÁI, JIU, DOÙ, YE AND FOCUS SEMANTICS

109

(140)

4.1 The function of parametric cái

109

(30)

4.1.1 Previous analyses of the function of parametric cái

109

(6)

4.1.2 Parametric cái and the exclusion of alternatives: the straightforward cases

115

(3)

4.1.3 Parametric cái and scales: ignoring trivial alternatives

118

(3)

4.1.4 Parametric cái and temporal scales

121

(8)

4.1.5 Parametric cái, subordinate clauses, and "necessary conditions"

129

(10)

4.2 The function of parametric jiù

139

(38)

4.2.1 Previous analyses of the function of parametric

139

(5)

4.2.2 Parametric jiù and the exclusion of at least one alternative: the straightforward cases

144

(3)

4.2.3 Parametric jiù and "sufficient conditions"

147

(4)

4.2.4 Parametric jiù and C-topics

151

(6)

4.2.5 Implicit C-topics

157

(5)

4.2.6 Parametric jiù, temporality, scales, and evaluation

162

(9)

4.2.7 Markedness relations

171

(1)

4.2.8 'The jiù of twin variables'

172

(5)

4.3 The functions of parametric dou and ye

177

(54)

4.3.1 Previous analyses of the function of parametric dou and ye

178

(6)

4.3.2 Parametric dou/ye and universal/existential quantification over domains of alternatives: the case of lián/even-sentences

184

(8)

4.3.3 Parametric dou/ye and negative polarity items

192

(17)

4.3.4 Parametric dou/ye and free-choice interpretations of wh-words/indefinite pronominals and disjunctions

209

(14)

4.3.5 Parametric dou/ye and concessivity

223

(8)

4.4 The architecture of the system

231

(9)

4.5 Residual parametric words: hái and zài

240

(5)

4.6 Conclusions of chapter 4

245

(4)

5 PROBLEMS AND REFINEMENTS

249

(34)

5.1 Problems of scope interaction and syntax

249

(9)

5.1.1 The problem stated

249

(2)

5.1.2 Some unsatisfactory solutions

251

(2)

5.1.3 Solving the problem with an unusual constituency of tripartite structures

253

(5)

5.2 Modalizing uses of parametric cái and jiù

258

(11)

5.2.1 Diagnostics of the modal use type

260

(2)

5.2.2 The predicates following cái and jiù as markers of the modal ordering source

262

(3)

5.2.3 The function of cái and jiù in the modalizing use

265

(4)

5.3 Three people and a piano

269

(7)

5.4 Two parametric words in a single clause

276

(7)

6 CONCLUSIONS AND OUTLOOK

283

(12)

6.1 Main claims and results

283

(2)

6.2 The wider context

285

(10)

6.2.1 The exotic status of the quantificational type relating to jiù

285

(1)

6.2.2 Two topological focus-background systems

286

(3)

6.2.3 Cross-linguistic parallels and the emergence of the Mandarin system

289

(6)

7 REFERENCES

295

(10)

8 INDEX

305

What is included with this book?

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

FREE SHIPPING

Amazon no longer offers textbook rentals. We do!

Focus and Background Marking in Mandarin Chinese: System and Theory behind cai, jiu, dou and ye

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials