Linguistic Form and Function: Expression of Countability in Chinese wh-Phrases

• 作者: Aijun Huang
• 来源期刊: 语言与符号学研究
• 学科: 文学
• 年，卷（期）: 2015,（4）
• 页码范围: 34-51
• 页数: 18页
• 分类号: H146

摘要

The present paper investigates the relationship between form(morpho-syntax)and function(semantic interpretation)as involved in the expression of countability in the Chinese whpronoun system.We focus on three wh-pronouns:duo-shao‘much-little’,duo-shao-ge‘much-little-Classifier’,and ji-ge‘how many-Classifier’.Based on the examination of the interpretation and distribution of these wh-phrases in three distinct linguistic contexts(questions,bare conditionals,and negative statements),we generalize that while duo-shao functions as an indeterminate determiner,duo-shao-ge and ji-ge function as two count determiners.This generalization invites the conclusion that the morpho-syntax of these whphrases,particularly,the presence/absence of a classifi er,determines and shapes their semantic interpretation in countability.From a more general perspective,the present study suggests that a linguistic form determines its own linguistic functions.