Pragmatic Particles: Findings from Asian Languages (Bloomsbury Studies in Theoretical Linguistics)

Pragmatic Particles sheds new light on the linguistic theory and application of Asian languages with a particular focus on the role of particles and their socio-pragmatic nature. Drawing on a range of data that spans Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Mongolian, Turkish and beyond, the multidimensionality of Asian languages is brought to attention. Particles are central in this discourse and their constructive, expressive and attitudinal behaviours are revealed to be neither arbitrary nor peripheral. By branching away from a predominantly Euro-centric discussion and covering the relevant formal and functional foundations of syntax and semantics, this book offers an alternative lens to the appropriate treatment of Asian languages in contemporary linguistics. "Shedding new light on the constructive and expressive role of particles in natural language syntax and semantics, this book demonstrates that particle behaviours are neither arbitrary nor peripheral. Based on SOV agglutinative languages situated in Asia, previously overlooked in theoretical linguistics, Jieun Kiaer argues that particle behaviours are motivated socio-pragmatically and play a crucial role in explaining syntactic and semantic phenomena. With data drawn from Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Mongolian, Tamil, Turkish and Urdu, the constructive and attitudinal natures of the particles in these languages are analysed and modelled to that fundamentally syntactic decisions are driven by socio-pragmatic needs"-- Provided by publisher Cover Half title Series Title Copyright Contents List of illustrations Preface Acknowledgements Abbreviations and conventions 1 Introduction 2 Modelling flexible word orders 3 Efficiency grammar 4 Multidimensional meanings 5 Socio-pragmatic meanings 6 Particles as a meaning complex 7 Pragmatic syntax 8 Constructive particles and syntactic fluidity 9 Expressive and attitudinal particles Epilogue Notes Bibliography Index Preface1. Introduction2. Modelling Flexible Word Orders3. Efficiency Grammar4. Multi-Dimensional Meanings5. Socio-Pragmatic Meanings6. Particles as a Meaning Complex7. Pragmatic Syntax8. Constructive Particles and Syntactic Fluidity9. Expressive Particles and Socio-Pragmatic Complexity Epilogue Notes Bibliography Index