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Dimensional Adjectives In Nuosu Yi, Xiao Li, Hongyong Liu

Publications and Research

In this paper, we discuss two types of dimensional adjectives in Nuosu Yi (Tibeto- Burman), which we refer to as Positive adjectives (PAs) and Equative Adjectives (EAs). We show that PAs and EAs are subject to different distributions in gradation structures: EAs are only admissible in gradation structures that can be associated with measure phrases, which include differential comparatives (e.g., Ayi is 2 cm taller than Aguo. ) and degree questions (e.g., How tall is Ayi ?). PAs are licensed elsewhere, including comparatives that do not introduce a differential (e.g., Ayi is taller than Aguo. ), the intensification construction (e.g., …