Academic Journal

The Polyfunctionality and Origins of makee in Chinese Pidgin English

Λεπτομέρειες βιβλιογραφικής εγγραφής
Τίτλος: The Polyfunctionality and Origins of makee in Chinese Pidgin English
Συγγραφείς: Michelle Li
Πηγή: Journal of Language Contact. 17:727-755
Στοιχεία εκδότη: Walter de Gruyter GmbH, 2024.
Έτος έκδοσης: 2024
Περιγραφή: Words expressing ‘make’ are semantically and functionally versatile in many languages. Focusing on the word makee, derived from English make, in Chinese Pidgin English, a contact language originated in 18th-century Canton, China, this paper examines its origins and functions. Primarily a lexical verb, makee is polyfunctional in that it also occurs in the complex form [makee X] which indicates causation, imperative, and verbalization. Functioning as a main verb and a causative verb, makee largely mirrors the corresponding words in the source languages of the pidgin, namely English and Cantonese. However, makee as an imperative marker and a verbalizer are innovative features. In imperative sentences, makee in combination with another verb indicate commands. As a verbalizer, makee gives a verbal interpretation to the whole construction. These two new features of makee are not attributable to existing models in the source languages.
Τύπος εγγράφου: Article
ISSN: 1955-2629
1877-4091
DOI: 10.1163/19552629-01704005
Αριθμός Καταχώρησης: edsair.doi...........6363430833391fbb4d4b09e9ec628bf4
Βάση Δεδομένων: OpenAIRE
Περιγραφή
ISSN:19552629
18774091
DOI:10.1163/19552629-01704005