Work

From motion to speech act: The discourse function of luai-$k^{h}$ə in Ji’an Gan Chinese

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: In Ji’an Yunlou Gan Chinese, the fused motion verb combination luai - $k^{h}$ k h ə ‘come-go’ presents a paradox. It is syntactically low, at the v P or VP edge, but interpretatively high, affecting speech-act structure. It activates both speaker and hearer roles, shifting second-person subjects to inclusive interpretations in directives and acting as an attention-getter or ‘negotiator’ in commissives. Pursuing analogies to Basque, Japanese, and Jingpo, we propose a movement-free analysis, following Cheng and Sybesma (2003, 2004) and Cheng (2019) for a similar paradox in Chinese: luai - $k^{h}$ k h ə carries a bundled feature complex anchored to the Speech-act Phrase (SAP).

Source: Natural Language & Linguistic Theory

DOI: 10.1007/s11049-026-09716-5

Authors: Meixiang Chang, Zhaole Yang

Institutions: Shaanxi Normal University, Leiden University

Language: English

Topic: Syntax, Semantics, Linguistic Variation

Subfield: Language and Linguistics

Field: Arts and Humanities

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,090

Funders: Universiteit Leiden, China Scholarship Council, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies