The Location morpheme-demonstrative cycle in Wu dialects

Abstract

This article focuses on the Location morpheme-Demonstrative Cycle in Wu dialects. Wu dialects have a set of locational demonstratives that are formed from two morphemes, one denoting deixis and the other location. The demonstrative morpheme can often be dropped, in which case the location morpheme per se has to bear the function of the whole complex locational demonstrative. Further, the existence of ‘locational demonstratives + classifier + noun’ construction encoding locational possessive relation in Wu dialects provides an ideal context where the location morpheme can evolve into a basic demonstrative, thus forming a cycle of grammaticalization. The conclusion part further discusses various types of lexical renewal in different languages from the typological perspective.