Readers 读者
Desiderative modals and negative words in Taiwanese Southern Min: A dynamic account of competition and change
台湾闽南语欲求情态和否定的动态分析：竞争和演变
Chinfa Lien 连金发
Abstract 摘要
This paper explores desiderative modals such as beɁ4, ai3 and negative words such as m7, bo5 and bue7/be7 with respect to their individual semantic properties and the meanings that arise in combination with other words. As attested in authentic data, the interpretations of these words have an intimate relationship with the constructions in which they occur. A finding in this paper is that asymmetric relation between form and meaning is shown in monosyllabic words such as beɁ4, ai3 and m7, whereas when they are changed into disyllabic words the meaning becomes more explicit and less susceptible to ambiguity. As a result, earlier monosyllabic and newly developing disyllabic words form a picture of coexistence and even competition.
Subject Keywords 关键词
Desideration 欲求 Modal 情态 Negation 否定 Competition 竞争 Taiwanese Southern Min 台湾闽南语