Comparison of question forming process in Latin and Chinese
LING1000 Assignment 3
Full Name:
University No.:
Tutor’s Name:
Tutorial Group No.:
Assignment No.:
Leung Shue Sum
3035189702
Eileen Waegemaekers
13
3
Part 1: Syntax/Morphology
In a short essay format, investigate two different systems of forming questions in languages around the world (other than English). Be sure to choose systems that differ significantly for investigation.
Make a brief comparison between the two systems.
Although questions in languages may function similarly, ways to form questions could be completely different, as in Mandarin and Latin. Therefore, I would explore their systems of forming questions and provide a brief comparison.
Denotations
VP
verb phrase
XP
phrase in general
Q
question particle
()
optional
-
affixation
Mandarin Question System
Firstly, polar questions are formed by insertion of sentence-final particle, ma or ba, into a statement. While ma is neutral in attitude, ba is used to solicit agreement and seek confirmation for the pre-transformed statement (i.e. in [1b], “he lives here”). (Huang, 2014)
[1a]
ta
zhu
zher
ma?
he
live
here
Q?
“Does he live here?”
[1b]
ta
zhu
zher
ba?
he
live
here
Q?
“He lives here, doesn’t he?”
While in disjunctive questions, two or more choices are conjoined by haishi and particle ne may be inserted at sentence-final position. If the question contains only two VPs showing phonetic or phonological similarity, haishi could be dropped (in [2], both VPs contain the same object). (Huang
& Li, 2009)
[2]
Ni
mai
biao
(haishi)
You
buy
watch (or)
xiu
biao
(ne)?
repair watch (Q)?
“Do you sell watches or repair watches?”
Such conjugation reduction also occurs in A-not-A questions. As described by Huang and Li
(2009), it entails two constituents; of which the latter must equate to the former with negation (bu).
They also explained its reduced subtypes: firstly, X-not-XP, where the object (shu1 in [3a]) is eliminated or the first syllable of the phrase (gao) is reduplicated
Full Name:
University No.:
Tutor’s Name:
Tutorial Group No.:
Assignment No.:
Leung Shue Sum
3035189702
Eileen Waegemaekers
13
3
Part 1: Syntax/Morphology
In a short essay format, investigate two different systems of forming questions in languages around the world (other than English). Be sure to choose systems that differ significantly for investigation.
Make a brief comparison between the two systems.
Although questions in languages may function similarly, ways to form questions could be completely different, as in Mandarin and Latin. Therefore, I would explore their systems of forming questions and provide a brief comparison.
Denotations
VP
verb phrase
XP
phrase in general
Q
question particle
()
optional
-
affixation
Mandarin Question System
Firstly, polar questions are formed by insertion of sentence-final particle, ma or ba, into a statement. While ma is neutral in attitude, ba is used to solicit agreement and seek confirmation for the pre-transformed statement (i.e. in [1b], “he lives here”). (Huang, 2014)
[1a]
ta
zhu
zher
ma?
he
live
here
Q?
“Does he live here?”
[1b]
ta
zhu
zher
ba?
he
live
here
Q?
“He lives here, doesn’t he?”
While in disjunctive questions, two or more choices are conjoined by haishi and particle ne may be inserted at sentence-final position. If the question contains only two VPs showing phonetic or phonological similarity, haishi could be dropped (in [2], both VPs contain the same object). (Huang
& Li, 2009)
[2]
Ni
mai
biao
(haishi)
You
buy
watch (or)
xiu
biao
(ne)?
repair watch (Q)?
“Do you sell watches or repair watches?”
Such conjugation reduction also occurs in A-not-A questions. As described by Huang and Li
(2009), it entails two constituents; of which the latter must equate to the former with negation (bu).
They also explained its reduced subtypes: firstly, X-not-XP, where the object (shu1 in [3a]) is eliminated or the first syllable of the phrase (gao) is reduplicated