The Development of Polysemous ‘One’-phrase in Mandarin Chinese
Keyword(s):
The One
◽
Mandarin ‘one’-phrase, [<em>yi </em>‘one’+classifier+noun], has multiple interpretations, such as counting /measuring phrases, negative polarity items (NPIs), and expressions meaning ‘whole’. Each function of the ‘one’-phrase is treated as a construction that has different relationships among its three components. ‘One’ serves as a reference point on a scale, so the numeral sequence can mean maximality or minimality depending on contexts. The scalar implications are built into the whole construction instead of one lexeme through grammaticalization. This study aims to provide a unified account for the synchronic polysemous ‘one’-phrase by looking into its diachronic development.
Keyword(s):
2013 ◽
Vol 26
(2)
◽
pp. 258-270
◽
Keyword(s):
2010 ◽
Vol 28
(4)
◽
pp. 931-952
◽
Keyword(s):
Keyword(s):
Keyword(s):