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Comparative sentences are a syntactic "pattern" commonly used in languages. Due to variation in language systems, languages may differ in phonology, morphology, semantics and syntax. In this thesis, we find some properties that are unique to the comparative sentences in Hakka. Based on previous studies, we find that ka3 and go3 are two comparative markers that are widely used in Hakka, but not found in Mandarin Chinese. The comparative marker bi2 may co-occur with ka3 in Hakka comparative sentences, forming the bi2 … ka3 … pattern, while such a pattern is not allowed in Mandarin Chinese. The major difference between Hakka and Mandarin Chinese is the syntactic position of ka3. This marker often surfaces before the comparative predicate; however, when the comparative predicate is a VP, the marker will be included in the predicate, regardless of whether the marker is before or after the verb. In comparative sentences, adjectives and adverbs are used to intensify or reduce the degree of comparison. The reduplicative adjectives in Hakka may also denote the comparative meaning and are used to compare the state described with a standard implicitly assumed in the context. The marker ka3 in the Hakka ka3 comparative sentences can express either the comparative meaning or the degree meaning, the latter of which is used to specify the degree to which a verb or an adjective applies. The ka3 + adjective sequence may also be followed by a minimal quantifier. These characteristics are unique to ka3 and are not seen in other degree adverbs in Hakka. It is found that only ka3 may serve as a degree adverb in Hakka comparative sentences.
Keywords: Comparative Sentences, Hakka, Comparative Markers
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