<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Adopting the cartographic approach, this paper proposes syntactic positions for all left-periphery particles above the tense phrase (TP) in Cantonese. These include both sentence-final particles and sentence-initial particles that can be used in isolation as interjections. Based on previous syntactic proposals for the left periphery, a modification of Rizzi’s (2001) split-complementizer phrase (Split-CP) structure is proposed. A Deictic Phrase (DeicP) is added above the finite phrase (FinP) for the Cantonese “tense” particles <italic>laa3</italic> and <italic>lei4</italic>(<italic>ge3</italic>). Then, based on a number of proposals inspired by Speas and Tenny (2003), two functional phrases are added above the force phrase (ForceP) – a higher affect phrase (AffectP) for Cantonese sentence-initial particles and a lower discourse phrase (DiscourseP) for most of the sentence-final particles. The resulting structure is tentatively proposed to account for the word order of all left-periphery particles in Cantonese, bringing the description of their syntax closer in line with a number of proposals based on left-periphery particles in other languages. This proposal includes a three-way distinction of the functions and meanings of left-periphery particles: 1) particles that lie between ForceP and TP do not refer directly to the discourse context; 2) particles that head DiscourseP <italic>do</italic> refer directly to the discourse; and 3) particles that head AffectP refer to the discourse <italic>and</italic> express human emotions.</p></abstract>

Adopting the cartographic approach, this paper proposes syntactic positions for all left-periphery particles above the tense phrase (TP) in Cantonese. These include both sentence-final particles and sentence-initial particles that can be used in isolation as interjections. Based on previous syntactic proposals for the left periphery, a modification of Rizzi’s (2001) split-complementizer phrase (Split-CP) structure is proposed. A Deictic Phrase (DeicP) is added above the finite phrase (FinP) for the Cantonese “tense” particles laa3 and lei4(ge3). Then, based on a number of proposals inspired by Speas and Tenny (2003), two functional phrases are added above the force phrase (ForceP) – a higher affect phrase (AffectP) for Cantonese sentence-initial particles and a lower discourse phrase (DiscourseP) for most of the sentence-final particles. The resulting structure is tentatively proposed to account for the word order of all left-periphery particles in Cantonese, bringing the description of their syntax closer in line with a number of proposals based on left-periphery particles in other languages. This proposal includes a three-way distinction of the functions and meanings of left-periphery particles: 1) particles that lie between ForceP and TP do not refer directly to the discourse context; 2) particles that head DiscourseP do refer directly to the discourse; and 3) particles that head AffectP refer to the discourse and express human emotions.

The Syntax and Semantics of Cantonese Particles in the Left Periphery

Studies in Chinese Linguistics

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

{"article-title":"The Syntax and Semantics of Cantonese Particles in the Left Periphery"}

Adopting the cartographic approach, this paper proposes syntactic positions for all left-periphery particles above the tense phrase (TP) in Cantonese. These...

The Syntax and Semantics of Cantonese Particles in the Left Periphery

Published Online: Dec 31, 2020

Page range: 109 - 138

Received: Jan 22, 2020

Accepted: Nov 03, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/scl-2020-0004

Keywords
Cantonese, discourse particles, left periphery, syntax

© 2020 John C. Wakefield, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The Syntax and Semantics of Cantonese Particles in the Left Periphery

Published Online: Dec 31, 2020

Page range: 109 - 138

Received: Jan 22, 2020

Accepted: Nov 03, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/scl-2020-0004

KeywordsCantonese, discourse particles, left periphery, syntax

© 2020 John C. Wakefield, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
Cantonese, discourse particles, left periphery, syntax