Disposal constructions in Chaoshan Southern Min
An apparent time study of the Chenghai dialect
In: Cahiers de Linguistique Asie OrientaleSearch for other papers by Shuhan LIN in
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Abstract
This study examines the use of various types of disposal constructions in the Chenghai dialect of Chaoshan Southern Min. Based on the distinction between head-marking and dependent-marking grammar, we identify four types of disposal constructions, depending on the position of the marker. We performed the fruit cart task to elicit disposal constructions from 30 native speakers of this dialect. Our results indicate that zero-marking is the most dominant construction type, where topicalization represents the most common subtype; this observation is in line with Southern Min’s strong tendency towards topicalized structures. Nonetheless, despite its dominance at present, the frequency of this construction type increases with age, which suggests that it may be losing ground. Notably, according to our preliminary observation, another topicalized structure in Chenghai Southern Min also seems falling into disfavour, suggesting that the declining use of topicalization in this Chaoshan dialect may be systemic.
Résumé
La présente étude porte sur l’utilisation des différents types de constructions disposales en Chenghai, un dialecte de la branche de Chaoshan qui fait partie des langues min méridionales. En nous basant sur la distinction entre grammaire de marquage de tête (head-marking) et marquage de dépendance (dependent-marking), nous avons identifié, selon la position du marqueur, quatre types de constructions disposales. Afin de provoquer la production de ces constructions, nous avons utilisé la méthode du “fruit cart” auprès de 30 locuteurs natifs du Chenghai. Les résultats montrent que le marquage-zéro est le type de construction prédominant dans ce dialecte et que la topicalisation représente le sous-type de construction le plus commun. Ces observations correspondent à ce que l’on trouve généralement en min méridional, qui a souvent tendance à recourir aux structures topicalisées. Néanmoins, malgré la dominance actuelle de ce type de construction, leur fréquence augmente selon l’âge des locuteurs, ce qui suggère qu’elles pourraient être en train de perdre du terrain. En effet, selon nos observations préliminaires, une autre structure topicalisée en Chenghai semble également être de moins en moins utilisée, ce qui pourrait être le signe du déclin systémique de ce genre de constructions.
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| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 354 | 154 | 5 |
| Full Text Views | 163 | 7 | 1 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 259 | 19 | 2 |
Disposal constructions in Chaoshan Southern Min
An apparent time study of the Chenghai dialect
In: Cahiers de Linguistique Asie OrientaleSearch for other papers by Shuhan LIN in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Pui Yiu SZETO in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Abstract
This study examines the use of various types of disposal constructions in the Chenghai dialect of Chaoshan Southern Min. Based on the distinction between head-marking and dependent-marking grammar, we identify four types of disposal constructions, depending on the position of the marker. We performed the fruit cart task to elicit disposal constructions from 30 native speakers of this dialect. Our results indicate that zero-marking is the most dominant construction type, where topicalization represents the most common subtype; this observation is in line with Southern Min’s strong tendency towards topicalized structures. Nonetheless, despite its dominance at present, the frequency of this construction type increases with age, which suggests that it may be losing ground. Notably, according to our preliminary observation, another topicalized structure in Chenghai Southern Min also seems falling into disfavour, suggesting that the declining use of topicalization in this Chaoshan dialect may be systemic.
Résumé
La présente étude porte sur l’utilisation des différents types de constructions disposales en Chenghai, un dialecte de la branche de Chaoshan qui fait partie des langues min méridionales. En nous basant sur la distinction entre grammaire de marquage de tête (head-marking) et marquage de dépendance (dependent-marking), nous avons identifié, selon la position du marqueur, quatre types de constructions disposales. Afin de provoquer la production de ces constructions, nous avons utilisé la méthode du “fruit cart” auprès de 30 locuteurs natifs du Chenghai. Les résultats montrent que le marquage-zéro est le type de construction prédominant dans ce dialecte et que la topicalisation représente le sous-type de construction le plus commun. Ces observations correspondent à ce que l’on trouve généralement en min méridional, qui a souvent tendance à recourir aux structures topicalisées. Néanmoins, malgré la dominance actuelle de ce type de construction, leur fréquence augmente selon l’âge des locuteurs, ce qui suggère qu’elles pourraient être en train de perdre du terrain. En effet, selon nos observations préliminaires, une autre structure topicalisée en Chenghai semble également être de moins en moins utilisée, ce qui pourrait être le signe du déclin systémique de ce genre de constructions.
| All Time | Past 365 days | Past 30 Days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abstract Views | 354 | 154 | 5 |
| Full Text Views | 163 | 7 | 1 |
| PDF Views & Downloads | 259 | 19 | 2 |