Negation in Thao and Tsou

• Main Authors: Youmehim Chen, 陳佑民
• Other Authors: Yung-li Chang
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2000
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/27336742907208833404

碩士 === 國立中正大學 === 語言學研究所 === 88 === NEGATION IN THAO AND TSOU ABSTRCT This thesis aims to study the negation systems in Thao and Tsou. We explore the similarities as well as differences between these two languages under the framework of Principles-and-Parameters Theory (also known as Government and Binding Theory). This thesis consists of two main parts. The first part includes descriptive discussions of the distributions and semantic properties of negators in Thao and Tsou. We also address some relevant issues on the basis of the observations made in this part, which is comprised of the main body of the second part of this thesis. We have found that firstly, the distinction between word negation and sentence negation is attested in Tsou but not in Thao. Secondly, the tripartite classifications of negators proposed by Yeh et at. (1998) is attested in both languages. Thirdly, we discuss the distributions of the particle tu used in Thao negative constructions and compare three possible analyses of this particle: as a non-finite complementizer, as a linker, and as an accusative case marker. As for Tsou, we examine the grammatical function of the particle ci, which links negators and theme NPs in negative existential and possessive constructions, and identify it as an oblique case marker. We also examine the Neg-parameters of categorial selection and grammatical features proposed by Ouhalla (1990, 1991).