Research
Syntax & semantics
Quantifier doubling (concord)
Universal concord
- I show that universal elements also have concord, on a par with negative concord. Focusing on the suffix -can ‘whenever’ in Cantonese and mei…dou ‘every’ in Mandarin, I argue for a syntactic agreement analysis of universal concord. I also discuss the relevance of minimality effects.
- Cantonese, Mandarin|paper-PLC|handout-NYU
- A related discussion on the scopal behaviour of the verbal suffix -can ‘whenever’ in Cantonese.
- Cantonese|paper-CRCL (in Chinese)
Doubling exclusivity
- I investigate the doubling phenomenon of exlcusive focus particles in Cantonese and seek for a compositional account.
Adverbial clauses
Internal syntax
[with Zhuo Chen]
- We argue that adverbial clauses may be derived by either operator movement or merging an in-situ operator at the highest CP. These two strategies are attested in both central and peripheral adverbial clauses, calling for a finer typology of adverbial clauses.
- Mandarin|(please email me for the handout)
- A related discussion on reducing the external syntax to the internal syntax in terms of operator merging sites.
- Cantonese|paper-WCCFLext.|poster-WCCFL
Converbs
- I investigate 11 Cantonese converbs (i.e. affixes that only occur in adverbial clauses) and show that converbal clauses conform with the central-peripheral distinction just as regular adverbial clauses.
- Cantonese|paper-ms|Mphil thesis (in Chinese)
Hyperraising
Hyperraising, evidentiality and phase deactivation
[with Tommy Tsz-Ming LEE]
- We show that raising out of a finite clause (i.e. hyperraising) is correlated with indirect evidence cross-linguistically, and how the correlation may be accounted for under a phase-deactivation approach.
- Cantonese, Vietnamese|handout-BCGL|paper-ms
Modal
Modal movement licensed by focus
[with Tommy Tsz-Ming LEE]
- We propose that root modals in Chinese can undergo movement when crossing a focused element, and the movement is constrained by output economy regarding focus set calculation.
- Mandarin|paper-bookchapter
Syntax-phonology interface
PF: Copy Deletion
Discontinuous predicates
[with Sheila Shu-Laam CHAN & Tommy Tsz-Ming LEE]
- Focusing on discontinuous predicates, we propose that Copy Deletion may interact with syllable deletion and apply partially. Micro-variations between Cantonese and Mandarin are also addressed.
- Cantonese, Mandarin|paper-PLC|handout-NACCL
Non-agreeing resumption
[with Comfort Ahenkorah]
- Drawing evidence from non-agreeing resumptive pronouns, we argue that Copy Deletion can apply in a partial fashion and spell out the lower copy of a movement chain as default pronouns.
- Akan, Cantonese|handout-UConn
Prosodic domains
Right dislocation
- Based on acoustic data, I study the mapping from clauses to intonational phrases in right dislocation. I also discuss micro-variations in Cantonese and Mandarin which are attributable to their prosodic differences.
- Cantonese, Mandarin|proceedings-Phex|slides-WICL
Corpus linguistics
Metaphorization and variations
Differential metaphorization and grammaticalization
[with Benjamin K. TSOU]
- With a case study on Chinese light verbs, we explore different dimensions involving gradation of metaphorization process and provide a general schema of metaphorization.
- Chinese|slides-SLE
- We offer a novel dynamic perspective to language variations with a process-based approach. Drawing data from LIVAC, we discuss parallel and differential developments of metaphorization process in varieties of Modern Standard Chinese.
- Chinese (BJ, HK, MC, TW)|paper-PACLIC|slides-NACCL|samples
Other
Cantonese learning: CanTONEse
[with Mei-ying KI & Yik-Po LAI]
- An app for second-language learning of Cantonese tones, developed for CUHK-CHLL.
- Cantonese|slides-Yue|Android/iOS