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The present paper investigates the relationship between form(morpho-syntax)and function(semantic interpretation)as involved in the expression of countability in the Chinese whpronoun system.We focus on three wh-pronouns:duo-shao‘much-little’,duo-shao-ge‘much-little-Classifier’,and ji-ge‘how many-Classifier’.Based on the examination of the interpretation and distribution of these wh-phrases in three distinct linguistic contexts(questions,bare conditionals,and negative statements),we generalize that while duo-shao functions as an indeterminate determiner,duo-shao-ge and ji-ge function as two count determiners.This generalization invites the conclusion that the morpho-syntax of these whphrases,particularly,the presence/absence of a classifi er,determines and shapes their semantic interpretation in countability.From a more general perspective,the present study suggests that a linguistic form determines its own linguistic functions.
The present paper investigates the relationship between form (morpho-syntax) and function (semantic interpretation) as involved in the expression of countability in the Chinese whpronoun system. We focus on three wh-pronouns: duo-shao’much-little ’, duo -shao-ge’much-little-Classifier ’, and ji-ge’how many-Classifier’.Based on the examination of the interpretation and distribution of these wh-phrases in three distinct linguistic contexts (questions, bare conditionals, and negative we generalize that while duo-shao functions as an indeterminate determiner, duo-shao-ge and ji-ge function as two count determiners. This generalization invites the conclusion that the morpho-syntax of these whphrases, particularly, the presence / absence of a classifi er, determines and shapes their semantic interpretation in countability. From a more general perspective, the present study suggests that a linguistic form determines its own linguistic functions.