閩南語的助詞「咧」：歷史語法與方言語法結合的對比研究

Drawing on data found in the Japanese linguistic magazine Yuyuan, this study aims to determine the source construction(s) involved in the grammaticalization of the Taiwan Southern Min (henceforth TSM) continuative aspect marker/utterance particle leh4. Two sets of continuative markers, ti7 leh4/leh4 and he7 leh4/he7, are attested in the Yuyuan. This suggests that the TSM continuative marker leh4 may have its origin not only in the stative locative prepositional phrase ti7 tsit4/hit4 te3, but also in the dynamic he7 tsit4/hit4 te3. In addition to marking continuative, ti7 leh4/he7 leh4 extends to marking multiple illocutionary forces. The preposition ti7/he7 is occasionally omitted, thus enabling the remaining leh4 to evolve into the utterance particle leh4 expressing exactness and emphasis. However, if it’s leh4 that gets omitted, the remaining he7 becomes the imperative particle heh8 soliciting the addressee’s consent.