A: ho’, si-pawas=misu
6.2 Suggestions for further research
During our research, several interesting issues were found to deserve further studies, which may be classified into three major types.
First, compared to other Atayal dialects such as Mayrinax and Squliq, Plngawan has received little notice and is in need of a more comprehensive description.
Second, it is worthwhile to conduct a cross-linguistic comparative study on the morphosyntax of interrogative constructions of Atayalic languages/dialects because there are now enough studies to carry out such a research plan. Also, there are a number of phenomena that have not been fully investigated, for example:
The question particle ya’ in Plngawan is both phonologically and syntactically similar to yee in Tkdaya Seediq; besides, according to our informant Yumin, the quetison particle ya’ is pronounced as ye’ by some Plngawan native speakers.
Consider (6.1).
(6.1) a. Plngawan (CIP)
ya’=su k<um>aral karirex ci ke’ na ’itaral?
QP=2S.Nom speak<AF>speak every day Acc language Gen Atayal
‘Do you often speak Atayal?’
b. Tkdaya Seediq (CIP)
yee=su r<m>engo kari seediq klaali ka isu?
QP=2S.Nom speak<AF>speak language Seediq every day Nom 2S.Neu
‘Do you often speak Seediq?’
In addition, while the interrogative word meaning “what” seems to share a similar form in most Atayalic languages, such as nanuwan in Mayrinax Atayal, nanu in Squliq Atayal, maanu in Tkdaya Seediq and manu in Truku, the form ’amol
‘what’ in Plngawan seems to be quite unique. For a discussion on the grammaticalization of nanu and the development of nanuwan in Mayrinax Atayal, one may refer to Tseng (2008).
Finally, regarding intonation of interrogative constructions, three directions for future research are suggested:
(i) A statistical analysis may help explain how and to what extent do factors such as stress pattern, syllable structure, gender, etc influence modification of intonation contours.
(ii) From a discourse perspective, we may explore how intonation helps with marking of constituency boundary, turn takings in conversations and/or distribution of old/new information.
(iii) Studies on interfaces among syntax, semantics, phonology and morphology may provide new perspectives for future studies on the same issue, i.e. form and function of interrogative constructions.
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Appendix
Glosses and translations of the examples used in § 5.1 (5.1) a. ba’=cu mawas.
(5.2) know.AF=1S.Nom AF.sing ‘I can sing.’
b. ba’=su mawas?
know.AF=2S.Nom AF.sing ‘Can you sing?’
(5.3) a. watan ka’ ci’uli’ haca.
Watan Nom person that
‘That person is Watan.’
b. watan ka’ ci’uli’ haca?
Watan Nom person that
‘Is that person Watan?’
(5.4) a. musa’=cu hori’ karirex.
AF.go=1S.Nom Hori’ every day
‘I go to Hori’ every day.’
b. musa’=su hori’ karirex?
AF.go=2S.Nom Hori’ every day
‘Do you go to Hori’ every day?’
(5.5) a. nel=cu mabahu.
Exi.Imm=1S.Nom AF.wash
‘I am washing (dishes).’
b. cyel=su mabahu?
Exi.Rem=2S.Nom AF.wash
‘Are you washing (dishes)?’
(5.6) a. ’ini=cu kani’ na.
Neg.Rea=1S.Nom eat still
‘I did not eat yet.’
b. ’ini=su kani’ na?
Neg.Rea=2S.Nom eat still
‘Didn’t you eat yet?’
(5.7) a. cyel mani’ hiya la.
Exi.Rem AF.eat 3S.Neu Part
‘He is eating.’
b. cyel mani’ hiya la?
Exi.Rem AF.eat 3S.Neu Part
‘Is he eating?’
(5.8) a. m<in>ani’=cu la.
AF<Prf>eat=1S.Nom Part
‘I have eaten.’
b. m<in>ani’=su la?
AF<Prf>eat=2S.Nom Part
‘Have you eaten?’
(5.9) a. cyel mani’ ka’ watan.
Exi.Rem AF.eat Nom Watan
‘Watan is eating.’
b. cyel mani’ ka’ watan?
Exi.Rem AF.eat Nom Watan
‘Is Watan eating?’
(5.10) Declarative sentences and corresponding ya’-questions and tag questions d. s<un>kisli’ carung mawas ci ’awas hani ka’ yuma.
like<AF>like very AF.sing Acc song this Nom Yuma
‘Yuma likes to sing this song very much.’
d’. ya’ s<un>kisli’ carung mawas ci ’awas hani ka’ yuma?
QP like<AF>like very AF.sing Acc song this Nom Yuma
‘Does Yuma like to sing this song very much?’
d’’. s<un>kisli’ carung mawas ci ’awas hani ka’ yuma ’aw?
like<AF>like very AF.sing Acc song this Nom Yuma QTag
‘Yuma likes to sing this song very much, doesn’t she?’
(5.11) a’. matas ka’ lawa ya’ mabel?
AF.draw Nom Lawa QP AF.sleep
Is Lawa drawing or sleeping?’
b’. s<in>bale’=su ka’ rakat ya’=su b<in>iniy?
<Prf.PF>make=2S.Gen Nom chair QP=2S.Gen buy<Prf.PF>buy
‘Is the chair made or bought by you?’
(5.12) a’. s<un>kisli’=su mawas ya’ ma-yugi’?
like<AF>like=2S.Nom AF.sing QP AF-dance
‘Do you like to sing or to dance?’
where go<Prf>go-LF=2S.Gen yesterday
‘Where did you go yesterday?’
b. m<in>sa’ ’inu hira ka’ watan?
AF<Prf>go where yesterday Nom Watan
‘Where did Watan go yesterday?’
c. m<in>sa’=su ’inu?
AF<Prf>go=2S.Nom where ‘Where did you go?’
(5.19) a. pira’ ka’ ni’-un=su?
how many/much Nom eat-PF=2S.Gen
‘How many did you eat?’
b. m<in>ani’ ci pira’ ka’ watan?
AF<Prf>eat Acc how many/much Nom Watan
‘How many did Watan eat?’
c. m<in>ani’=su ci pira’?
cook<AF>cook Acc what Nom mother
‘What does Mother cook?’
c. t<um>ahuk=su ci ’amol?
cook<AF>cook=2S.Nom Acc what ‘What do you cook?’
(5.21) a. kanon ma-moh ka’ watan?
when Red-AF.come Nom Watan ‘When will Watan come?’
b. ma-moh kanon ka’ watan?
Red-AF.come when Nom Watan ‘When will Watan come?’
c. ma-moh=su kanon?
Red-AF.come=2S.Nom when ‘When will you come?’
(5.22) a. h<in>co’=su morow hira?
do what<Prf>do what=2S.Nom house yesterday
‘What did you do at home yesterday?’
b. wal h<un>co’ hira ka’ watan?
Prf do what<AF>do what yesterday Nom Watan
‘What has Watan done yesterday?’
c. cyel=su h<un>co’?
Exi.Rem=2S.Nom do what<AF>do what
‘What are you doing?’