Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book focuses on a wide range of grammatical patterns of Southern Min from both synchronic and diachronic perspectives including comparatives, obligative and dynamic modals, formation of coordinate conjunctions from the comitative marker, the rise of continuative aspect marker, grammaticalization of the verb of saying into a complementizer, and purposives in Southern Min. It addresses the topic of comparatives of inequality from a diachronic perspective. Any comparative construction will involve the basic grammatical categories such as the target of comparison, the degree adverb, the predicate of comparison, the standard marker, and the standard of comparison. The book explores the multiple functions of ditransitive verbs in Taiwanese Southern Min, Quemoy Southern Min from Quemoy and Quanzhou Southern Min which is essentially the homeland of Southern Min, using data based on her fieldwork.