Where to Locate Mandarin Localizers?

Abstract

The paper shows that neither monosyllabic localizers nor disyllabic localizers in Mandarin are postpositions. More importantly, it argues that, contra previous uniform treatments of monosyllabic localizers as postpositions, clitics, or deviates of nouns, monosyllabic localizers in Mandarin in fact serve different functions in different contexts or constructions. Specifically, they can be used as a noun in at least a few limited contexts, as a root in a polymorphemic word, and as a clitic when attached to a full-fledged NP. The paper shows that disyllabic localizers serve similar functions though, unlike monosyllabic localizers, they can be used as regular nouns. The paper thus demonstrates that localizers, whether monosyllabic or disyllabic, can all be analyzed with crosslinguistic notions like “noun,” “root,” and “clitic.” When monosyllabic and disyllabic localizers are used as nouns, they function as independent words. When they are a component of a polymorphemic word, they serve as a nominal root. When they function as a clitic, they are also nominal in nature.