The Multifunctionality of Mandarin Diao (sic) A cross-linguistic perspective

This paper explores the various functions of diao in Mandarin Chinese as it changes from a verb to a phase marker. As a phase marker, diao provides a natural endpoint to a co-occurring event and indicates completion, which is a distinct function from the perfect marker le. In this shift, the meaning of diao also expands, including 'falling down', 'throwing down', 'disappearing', 'removal', 'completion' and 'change of state'. The multifunctionality of diao is the result of grammaticalization along with semantic change and extension. Cognitive mechanisms such as metonymic and metaphoric extensions, pragmatic inferencing, analogy on Verb-Complement structures, and semantic generalization all contribute to the grammaticalization of diao, with further influence from contact with southern Chinese dialects. This paper further argues that the grammaticalization and semantic extension of diao is in accordance with the development of aspectual markers cross-linguistically, reflecting the commonality in human cognition.