Research: Grammaticalization processes in Sinitic dialects (working title)
Grammaticalization is the process through which lexical items gradually evolve into functional grammatical elements. It is considered one of the primary mechanisms by which languages create new grammatical material. It is a complex phenomenon that may involve cognitive, pragmatic, functional, typological and sociolinguistic factors.
In this study, grammaticalization theory is applied to the diachronic development of several grammatical morphemes in Sinitic varieties, particularly within the Wu group. Special attention will be given to the varieties that have received little attention in previously published literature.
The aim of this research is to reconstruct the pathways through which these morphemes have changed and to understand the linguistic and functional motivations underlying their evolution.
Research interests
Grammaticalization; Sinitic dialectology; Wu dialects; Wenzhou dialect; diachronic linguistics; cognitive linguistics; typological linguistics
Curriculum Vitae
Present: PhD Candidate in Civilizations of Asia and Africa, Department Italian Institute of Oriental Studies, Sapienza University of Rome.
2021–2024: MA in Oriental Languages and Civilizations, Sapienza University of Rome.
Thesis: Some Cases of Grammaticalization in Mandarin Chinese.
Supervisor: Alessandro Leopardi; Co-supervisor: Federico Masini.
2016–2020: BA in Languages, Cultures, Literatures and Translation, Sapienza University of Rome.
Thesis: A Case of Grammaticalization in Mandarin Chinese: The Character jiu.
Supervisor: Federico Masini.