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Semantics 5:

Lexical and Grammatical Meaning

Lexical Meaning: concrete, specific e.g. gwo3 cross, pass, gan2 tight Grammatical Meaning: abstract, vague e.g. lek1 gwo3 ngo5 smarter than me (comparative) gwo3 as in heoi3-gwo3 have been (experiential aspect) gan2 as in dang2-gan2 waiting (progressive aspect) Relationship between lexical and grammatical meaning: (i) historical derivation (comparative gwo derives from the verb gwo pass) (ii) synchronic polysemy (gwo can mean cross, pass or surpass) Grammaticalization: the process by which lexical morphemes acquire grammatical meanings/functions
general hypothesis: all grammatical morphemes derive from lexical sources specific hypotheses: e.g. all/most progressive morphemes derive from locative expressions; future tense typically derives from motion verbs

Grammaticalization pathways: routes from lexical to grammatical meaning location -> action in progress locative Ta zai Taiwan s/he at Taiwan progressive Ta zai chang ge s/he at sing song

Mandarin:

Malay: sedang middle; sedang + verb -> progressive dia sedang bercakap dengan jirannya. he middle chat with neighbour-his He was (in the middle of) talking to his neighbour. motion - > future

Were going to study French next year. French: On va tudier lallemand. one goes study German Were going to study German.

Evidence for synchronic relationships between lexical and grammatical meaning lexical retention: prior lexical meanings constrain grammatical functions

going to [+ intentional] Im going to have my hair cut (causative, intentional) ? Im going to have my car stolen (indirect passive, unintentional) intermediate cases as missing links:

English: Were going to have lunch now. (movement and/or immediate future) Mandarin: Ta zai tushuguan du shu (locative and progressive) Shes in the library studying. Cantonese: Lei5 hang2ding6 leng3 dak1 gwo3 keoi5. You can definitely beat (surpass) her for looks. Transparency of lexical sources especially in creoles due to recent development

Tok Pisin: belong (lexical) -> possessive (grammatical) mi no save nem bilong en I not know name belong her I dont know her name Runionnais (French creole): finish (lexical) -> perfect tense (grammatical) li fini fatig he finish tired he has become tired Haitian creole: pass (lexical) -> exceed (grammatical: comparative) bel pase tout beautiful pass all the most beautiful

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