Optional elements and variant structures in the productions of bei2 to give dative constructions in Cantonese-speaking adults and three-year-old children

Abstract

To express object transfer, Cantonese-speakers use a ditransitive ([V-R-T] or [V-T-R] where V=Verb, T=Theme, R=Recipient), or a more complex prepositional/serial-verb (P/SV) construction. Clausal elements in Cantonese datives can be optional (resulting in full versus non-full forms) or appear in variant orders (full non-canonical and full canonical). We report on usage of dative constructions with the word bei2 to give in 86 parents and 53 three-year-old children during conversations. The parents used more P/SV than ditransitive bei2-datives, and vice versa for the children. Both groups showed a similar usage pattern of optional elements and variant structures in their ditransitive and P/SV bei2-datives. The roles of multiple construction types, optional elements and variant structures in children's learning of bei2-dative constructions are described. Copyright © 2009 Cambridge University Press.