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Lecture | CHiLL series

Definiteness and post-classifier NPE in Cantonese and Longdu

Date
Wednesday 16 October 2024
Time
Serie
Chinese Linguistics in Leiden (ChiLL)
Address
Lipsius
Cleveringaplaats 1
2311 BD Leiden
Room
2.17

Abstract

In this talk, I discuss two kinds of post-classifier NP-ellipsis (NPE) in Chinese, based on Cantonese and Longdu data (a Min Chinese variety spoken in Guangdong Zhongshan area). I propose that there are at least two kinds of post-classifier NPE; the first type involves the full-fledged syntactic structure of the elided NP and is derived by deletion/non-pronunciation of the said NP in PF, call it ‘regular post-classifier NPE.’ The second type has a partitive reading (always indefinite), and a syntactic antecedent is not needed. I propose that the gap contains a null pro-form that is anaphoric to a discourse plural/kind, call it ‘partitive post-classifier NPE’. I will look at the context where post-classifier NPE in Cantonese and Longdu are not possible and show that the definiteness of the classifier seems to play a role in post-classifier NPE.

Bio

Joanna Ut-Seong Sio is an associate professor of Chinese linguistics at Palacký University Olomouc, the Czech Republic. She was educated in Macau, Hong Kong, Canada, and the Netherlands. She received my PhD in Leiden University in the Netherlands. Her research interests include the syntax and semantics of Chinese languages (Mandarin, Cantonese, Min). She is one of the maintainers of the Cantonese Wordnet. She is also interested in comedy, humor, and the use of verbal arts in the training of communication skills.

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