Publications-Periodical Articles

Article View/Open

Publication Export

Google ScholarTM

NCCU Library

Citation Infomation

Related Publications in TAIR

題名 The Malay suffix ‑an: a corpus-based study
作者 鍾曉芳
Chung, Siaw-Fong
貢獻者 英文系
關鍵詞 Malay; ‑an; suffix; corpus; metaphorical mechanism; semantic extension
日期 2026-09
上傳時間 1-Oct-2026 15:21:08 (UTC+8)
摘要 The Malay suffix ‑an plays a central role in the language’s system of derivational morphology, and we argue that its role extends far beyond simple nominalization. This paper examines the semantic range of ‑an and its metaphorical and relational networks based on previous linguistic research and semantic analysis. Although some words with and without ‑an may appear similar in meaning, their coexistence is not redundant. The addition of ‑an introduces specific semantic functions that create meaningful distinctions. The analysis identifies four major semantic extensions associated with ‑an: product of action, measurement, locative, and plurality. Each extension reflects metaphorical and conceptual expansion: in product of action, ‑an profiles the outcome or resultant entity of an action; in measurement, it may signal magnification; in locative, it shifts reference from an entity to a spatial domain; and in plurality, it contributes a collective or taxonomic interpretation rather than simple numerical plurality. The suffix interacts with discourse context and allows speakers to move between literal and abstract meanings while marking differences in quantity, scope, and spatial perspective. The study shows that ‑an exhibits semantic flexibility and structural complexity. It participates in a broader system of meaning construction in Malay. It also carries pragmatic force and guides interpretation in context, with effects on how speakers construe meaning in interaction. This reflects the language’s capacity to express subtle conceptual distinctions through morphology.
關聯 International Review of Pragmatics, Vol.18, No.2, pp.157–177
資料類型 article
DOI https://doi.org/10.1163/18773109-01802001
dc.contributor 英文系
dc.creator (作者) 鍾曉芳
dc.creator (作者) Chung, Siaw-Fong
dc.date (日期) 2026-09
dc.date.accessioned 1-Oct-2026 15:21:08 (UTC+8)-
dc.date.available 1-Oct-2026 15:21:08 (UTC+8)-
dc.date.issued (上傳時間) 1-Oct-2026 15:21:08 (UTC+8)-
dc.identifier.uri (URI) https://ah.lib.nccu.edu.tw/item?item_id=185555-
dc.description.abstract (摘要) The Malay suffix ‑an plays a central role in the language’s system of derivational morphology, and we argue that its role extends far beyond simple nominalization. This paper examines the semantic range of ‑an and its metaphorical and relational networks based on previous linguistic research and semantic analysis. Although some words with and without ‑an may appear similar in meaning, their coexistence is not redundant. The addition of ‑an introduces specific semantic functions that create meaningful distinctions. The analysis identifies four major semantic extensions associated with ‑an: product of action, measurement, locative, and plurality. Each extension reflects metaphorical and conceptual expansion: in product of action, ‑an profiles the outcome or resultant entity of an action; in measurement, it may signal magnification; in locative, it shifts reference from an entity to a spatial domain; and in plurality, it contributes a collective or taxonomic interpretation rather than simple numerical plurality. The suffix interacts with discourse context and allows speakers to move between literal and abstract meanings while marking differences in quantity, scope, and spatial perspective. The study shows that ‑an exhibits semantic flexibility and structural complexity. It participates in a broader system of meaning construction in Malay. It also carries pragmatic force and guides interpretation in context, with effects on how speakers construe meaning in interaction. This reflects the language’s capacity to express subtle conceptual distinctions through morphology.
dc.format.extent 105 bytes-
dc.format.mimetype text/html-
dc.relation (關聯) International Review of Pragmatics, Vol.18, No.2, pp.157–177
dc.subject (關鍵詞) Malay; ‑an; suffix; corpus; metaphorical mechanism; semantic extension
dc.title (題名) The Malay suffix ‑an: a corpus-based study
dc.type (資料類型) article
dc.identifier.doi (DOI) 10.1163/18773109-01802001
dc.doi.uri (DOI) https://doi.org/10.1163/18773109-01802001