The Interaction between Modals and SFPs in Mandarin Chinese: A Cartographic Approach = 以製圖理論視角看模態助動詞以及句末助詞的互動
Journal
中國語文研究
Journal Volume
42
Journal Issue
2
Pages
183-204
Date Issued
2021
Author(s)
Abstract
Abstract Both sentential final particles (SFPs) and high modals commonly convey the speakers’ knowledge of the world, their judgments, intentions, and subjective attitudes. This paper aims to explore the correlations between high modals and sentence-final particles in Mandarin Chinese (MC). Specifically, two high modals of MC show the behavior of being unable to precede the subject and eliminating their epistemic reading in the presence of SFPs. The phenomenon discussed in this paper is specifically exemplified with yinggai ‘should’ and keneng ‘be likely to’ in MC. We give an analysis about which modals and SFPs are interlaced in terms of their scope positions, so as to explain the phenomena.
SDGs
Type
journal article