<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>This paper investigates the deontic modal <italic>sai2</italic> in Cantonese. I argue that <italic>sai2</italic> is an NPI and a negative operator is induced at the sentence-initial position by the SFPs <italic>me1</italic> or <italic>aa4</italic> in rhetorical questions. In SAI sentence, <italic>sai2</italic> must syntactically agree with the negative operator for licensing, and minimality and locality effects are found in such agreement. This study may provide evidence of a syntactic approach to NPI licensing and rhetorical questions.</p>
</abstract>

This paper investigates the deontic modal sai2 in Cantonese. I argue that sai2 is an NPI and a negative operator is induced at the sentence-initial position by the SFPs me1 or aa4 in rhetorical questions. In SAI sentence, sai2 must syntactically agree with the negative operator for licensing, and minimality and locality effects are found in such agreement. This study may provide evidence of a syntactic approach to NPI licensing and rhetorical questions.

Rhetorical Questions and Polarity Licensing: On Cantonese Modal <italic>Sai2</italic>

Studies in Chinese Linguistics

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

Rhetorical Questions and Polarity Licensing: On Cantonese Modal 

This paper investigates the deontic modal sai2 in Cantonese. I argue that sai2 is an NPI and a negative operator is induced at the sentence-initial position by...

Rhetorical Questions and Polarity Licensing: On Cantonese Modal Sai2

Published Online: Feb 07, 2023

Page range: 123 - 142

Received: Jun 30, 2022

Accepted: Nov 04, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/scl-2022-0005

Keywords
Cantonese modals, NPI licensing, minimality, rhetorical questions

© 2022 Tsun Hei Choi, published by Sciendo

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

Rhetorical Questions and Polarity Licensing: On Cantonese Modal Sai2

Published Online: Feb 07, 2023

Page range: 123 - 142

Received: Jun 30, 2022

Accepted: Nov 04, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/scl-2022-0005

KeywordsCantonese modals, NPI licensing, minimality, rhetorical questions

© 2022 Tsun Hei Choi, published by Sciendo

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

Keywords
Cantonese modals, NPI licensing, minimality, rhetorical questions