LINGUIST List 15.627

Tue Feb 17 2004

Books: Semantics/Syntax: Hole

Editor for this issue: Neil Salmond <neillinguistlist.org>

Directory

1. philippa.gedge, Focus and Background Marking in Mandarin Chinese: Hole

Title: Focus and Background Marking in Mandarin Chinese
Subtitle: System and Theory behind cai, jiu, dou and ye
Series Title: RoutledgeCurzon Asian Linguistics Series
			
Publication Year: 2004			
Publisher:	Routledge (Taylor and Francis)
		http://www.routledge.com/	
			
Author: Daniel Hole, Institut f�r Deutsche Philologie, LMU M�nchen, Germany

Hardback: ISBN: 0415315964, Pages: 328, Price: �55.00

			
Abstract:
			
This is an investigation into the grammaticalized system of
focus-background agreement in Mandarin Chinese. The particles c�i,
ji�, dou and ye are, in a specific use type, shown to form the core of
a highly systematic paradigm.

This book is not just a valuable companion for anyone interested in
core aspects of Mandarin Chinese grammar. It caters for the interests
of theoretical linguists as well as for linguists from other fields
with an interest in information-structure, focus and contrastive
topics, and quantification. The outstanding characteristic of this
book, viz. its effortless integration of findings from formal
semantics without heavy formal load, makes it rewarding reading both
for linguists with a less formal background, and for researchers with
some knowledge of formal semantics.

Contents:

1. Introduction
1.1 Parallel only-worlds and other problems
1.2 Focus-background structures 
1.3 Alternatives 
1.4 Data 
1.5 Organization of chapters/How to use this study 

2. Use types 
2.1 Use types of c�i
2.2 Use types of ji� 
2.3 Use types of dou 
2.4 Use types of ye 
2.6 Overview of classifications 

3. Triggers and constraints: where parametric c�i, ji�, dou and ye
 must (not) be used
3.1 Triggers and constraints: parametric c�i 
3.2 Triggers and constraints: parametric ji� 
3.3 Triggers and constraints: parametric dou and parametric ye 
3.4 The categorization problem: c�i, ji�, dou and ye as agreement
 particles
3.5 Revisiting the non-prototypical cases 

4. C�i, ji�, dou, ye and focus semantics 
4.1 The function of parametric c�i 
4.2 The function of parametric ji� 
4.3 The functions of parametric dou and ye
4.4 The architecture of the system 
4.5 Residual parametric words: h�i and z�i 
4.6 Conclusions of chapter 4 

5. Problems and refinements 
5.1 Problems of scope interaction and syntax 
5.2 Modalizing uses of parametric c�i and ji� 
5.3 Three people and a piano 
5.4 Two parametric words in a single clause 

6. Conclusions and outlook 
6.1 Main claims and results 
6.2 The wider context 

7. References 

8. Index

			
Lingfield(s):	Semantics,
		Syntax
			
Subject Language(s): Chinese, Mandarin (Language Code: CHN)

Written In: English (Language Code: English)

 See this book announcement on our website:
 http://linguistlist.org/get-book.html?BookID=9155.