From 'direction' to 'positive evaluation': On the grammaticalization, subjectification and intersubjectification of faan1 'return' in Cantonese

Winnie Chor*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

9 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This paper investigates the grammaticalization of the directional particle faan1 in Cantonese. Drawing on examples from a diachronic database reflecting the use of faan1 in Cantonese from the mid-nineteenth century to the present, this study traces the diachronic development of faan1. Originally a verb of movement meaning 'to return to the original location', faan1 has gradually developed into a grammatical particle giving resumptive meanings, as well as subjective evaluative meanings. Despite the fact that these meanings of faan1 have been commented upon extensively in the past, it is found that it has undergone further grammaticalization to become a tone-softener, playing an intersubjective role. It is suggested that the subjectification and intersubjectification of faan1 are motivated by the conversational needs for a speaker to express his subjective feelings as well as to care for his addressee's face needs. The particle faan1 turned out to be a very suitable candidate to achieve these communicative goals, thus leading to its pragmatic enrichment.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)91-134
Number of pages44
JournalLanguage and Linguistics
Volume14
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2013

Scopus Subject Areas

  • Language and Linguistics
  • Linguistics and Language

User-Defined Keywords

  • Cantonese
  • Evaluative particle
  • Faan1
  • Grammaticalization
  • Subjectification
  • 粵語
  • 語法化
  • 主觀化
  • 評價助詞
  • 「返」

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