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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Sciendo
2018
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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) |
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DOAJ |
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DOAJ |
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EN |
| topic |
mandarin yě mandarin dōu scalarity free choice mandarin lián Chinese language and literature PL1001-3208 |
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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 |
| _version_ |
1718387291378941952 |