Mandarin Yě and Scalarity

This paper examines the use of Mandarin yě ‘also’ in contexts which dōu can be used as well, e.g., in no matter and even contexts. I argue that there is a correlation between the possibility of using yĕ and the presence of a scalar reading as well as a reference to an extremity on the scale in quest...

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Autor principal: Yang Zhaole
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Lenguaje:EN
Publicado: Sciendo 2018
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Acceso en línea:https://doaj.org/article/c216ebbf9d614b0d8d35fffc828958fa
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spelling oai:doaj.org-article:c216ebbf9d614b0d8d35fffc828958fa2021-12-02T15:25:32ZMandarin Yě and Scalarity1017-127410.2478/scl-2018-0006https://doaj.org/article/c216ebbf9d614b0d8d35fffc828958fa2018-12-01T00:00:00Zhttps://doi.org/10.2478/scl-2018-0006https://doaj.org/toc/1017-1274This paper examines the use of Mandarin yě ‘also’ in contexts which dōu can be used as well, e.g., in no matter and even contexts. I argue that there is a correlation between the possibility of using yĕ and the presence of a scalar reading as well as a reference to an extremity on the scale in question. The data we present show that yě is invariably associated with scalar readings: yě is always used in scalar contexts, and contexts that are not obviously scalar become so when yě is used. I also argue that a scalar interpretation of wh-elements in no matter contexts can be derived with the aid of negation or modals, thus accounting for the felicitousness of yě in such contexts. The paper ends with a short note on lián, hypothesizing that its function is to introduce the extreme of the scale. I also argue that the licensing condition of the additive/basic yě, i.e., the presence of alternatives in the background, also plays a role in the scalar use of yě.Yang ZhaoleSciendoarticlemandarin yěmandarin dōuscalarityfree choicemandarin liánChinese language and literaturePL1001-3208ENStudies in Chinese Linguistics, Vol 39, Iss 2, Pp 155-178 (2018)
institution DOAJ
collection DOAJ
language EN
topic mandarin yě
mandarin dōu
scalarity
free choice
mandarin lián
Chinese language and literature
PL1001-3208
spellingShingle mandarin yě
mandarin dōu
scalarity
free choice
mandarin lián
Chinese language and literature
PL1001-3208
Yang Zhaole
Mandarin Yě and Scalarity
description This paper examines the use of Mandarin yě ‘also’ in contexts which dōu can be used as well, e.g., in no matter and even contexts. I argue that there is a correlation between the possibility of using yĕ and the presence of a scalar reading as well as a reference to an extremity on the scale in question. The data we present show that yě is invariably associated with scalar readings: yě is always used in scalar contexts, and contexts that are not obviously scalar become so when yě is used. I also argue that a scalar interpretation of wh-elements in no matter contexts can be derived with the aid of negation or modals, thus accounting for the felicitousness of yě in such contexts. The paper ends with a short note on lián, hypothesizing that its function is to introduce the extreme of the scale. I also argue that the licensing condition of the additive/basic yě, i.e., the presence of alternatives in the background, also plays a role in the scalar use of yě.
format article
author Yang Zhaole
author_facet Yang Zhaole
author_sort Yang Zhaole
title Mandarin Yě and Scalarity
title_short Mandarin Yě and Scalarity
title_full Mandarin Yě and Scalarity
title_fullStr Mandarin Yě and Scalarity
title_full_unstemmed Mandarin Yě and Scalarity
title_sort mandarin yě and scalarity
publisher Sciendo
publishDate 2018
url https://doaj.org/article/c216ebbf9d614b0d8d35fffc828958fa
work_keys_str_mv AT yangzhaole mandarinyeandscalarity
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