A WIERZBICKAN APPROACH TO SINGLISH PARTICLES

Abstract

Hitherto, much effort has been taken to study Singlish particles. Yet, the meaning of these particles still remains largely a mystery because of the inadequate or inappropriate approaches employed previously. This study attemps to solve the semantic mystery of Singlish particles using a semantic framework attributable to the Polish semanticist Anna Wierzbicka. The framework, which I call the Wierzbickan Semantic Model (WSM), involves semantic primitives, paraphrase, introspection, and corpus testing. I use the WSM to analyze the semantics of 'wilt', the 'ma' particles, and 'mE'. The outcome proves promising. In the first three chapters of the dissertation, theoretical issues concerning the topic are touched on, which include an introduction, word meaning, the WSM, and selected literature on Singlish particles. In the next three chapters (4 to 6). I study various selected particles. looking into their phonetics, syntax. functions. and specifically their semantics. In the final chapter. I conclude that the WSM is effective in drawing out the meanings of Singlish particles. Thus. my study shows that Singlish particles do have meanings and they can be clearly and precisely expressed by the WSM.