The Core Meaning of the Taiwanese La3

• Main Authors: Frank Yong-Shu Wang, 王永樹
• Other Authors: Linda Hsiao-Mei Liu
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2004
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/03374439411225885647

碩士 === 輔仁大學 === 語言學研究所 === 92 === Abstract It has been pointed out in the literature that Taiwanese particle la3 has multiple meanings and functions. But those studies cannot provide clear-cut criterion to judge the validity of la3's core meaning and thus become problematic. It is because they do the research either by the way of listing or “guesswork” (Schourup 1985, 7). In this paper, the core meaning of la3 is first confirmed in the modality perspective in Chapter 2. Second, Klein’s classification of 8 groups of AOD is used to indicate the concrete values derived from la3’s possible collocations. Third, by the use of Horn’s (1989) extended square of oppositions, it clarifies the relative relationships (positions and values) of each degree. Based on these criteria, la3’s ranges of denotation are testifies in Chapter 3 (the positives) and Chapter 4 (the negatives). As to Wang’s (2001) and Hsieh’s (2001) proposals toward la3’s core meaning, they are also testified based on the results of questionnaires and the evidences got from the positives and the negatives. Finally, la3’s core meaning is demonstrated on the pragmatic level with Li’s (1999) model of discourse analysis to see how its core meaning is explored to interact with its collocation and thus perform different discourse functions i.e. speech acts. Based on the above discussions, two aspects of la3’s core meaning are confirmed. First, Hsieh’s definition of la3 as a marker of self-certainty is basically correct. That is, it is a marker of self-certainty that shows a speaker’s epistemic attitude toward a proposition whose truthfulness is not necessarily evident [in the positives or in the negatives] (2001, 73). Second, by pointing out the specific ranges of la3’s meaning from its possible collocations and confirming them in the positives and in the negatives, this paper proves a clear-cut criterion in identifying la3’s core meaning.