THE EMERGENCE OF THE YOU CONSTRUCTION IN MANDARIN CHINESE: THE PERSPECTIVE OF CONTACT-INDUCED GRAMMATICALIZATION

Abstract

In the light of the two transfer types proposed by Van Coetsem (1988) and contact-induced grammaticalization propounded by Heine & Kuteva (2003, 2005), with some modifications, this dissertation attempts to propose an integrated explanatory model for the genesis of the you construction in the two varieties of Mandarin Chinese, Guoyu in Taiwan and Putonghua in Mainland China. The dissertation hypothesizes that the u/bo construction in Southern Min first underwent grammaticalization, which has been replicated by Guoyu. Like a relay, then the grammaticalization process of the you construction in Guoyu has been replicated in Putonghua. Whereas the export of the you construction from Southern Min to Guoyu reflects replica grammaticalization under sl agentivity, the import of the you construction from Guoyu to Putonghua reflects replica grammaticalization under rl agentivity.