Negation in the Xning Dialect

作者：Wang, Shuangcheng; Dede, Keith^*

来源：Language and Linguistics, 2016, 17(3): 407-429.

DOI：10.1177/1606822X15586686

• Amdo Tibetan
• language contact
• Monguor
• negation
• word order
• Xning dialect

Negative markers precede the element they negate in the majority of Chinese dialects, including Modern Standard Mandarin (MSM). In the Xning dialect of Qnghai Province, in addition to negative structures similar to MSM, the negative markers pv?(21)i?(13) ?, pv?S-21?(13) ?, and m?(21)i?(13) ?? occur at the end of the sentence, negating constituents that occur earlier in the sentence. Moreover, Xning negatives have very little freedom of movement; they must come directly beside the predicate nucleus. Xning negatives cannot change position and thereby expand the scope and focus of negation as they do in MSM. These word order features are consistent with those of the SOV languages spoken in the same region, suggesting their development in Xning is due to language contact.

• 出版日期2016-4
• 单位上海师范大学