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Until in Singapore English
Author(s) -
Bao Zhiming,
Wee Lionel
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
world englishes
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.6
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1467-971X
pISSN - 0883-2919
DOI - 10.1111/1467-971x.00080
Subject(s) - syntax , linguistics , character (mathematics) , semantics (computer science) , standard english , conjunction (astronomy) , history , british english , function (biology) , computer science , sociology , mathematics , philosophy , physics , geometry , astronomy , evolutionary biology , biology , programming language
This paper investigates the syntax and semantics of one word, until , in Standard British English and Singapore English. We show that while until is used in similar fashion in both varieties of English, it has uses in Singapore English which are not available in Standard British English. After having analyzed the syntax and semantics of one particle in Chinese, namely dao , we show the parallel between until in Singapore English and dao in Chinese, and argue that the additional meanings of until in Singapore English are due to the substrate influence of Chinese. It has been extensively documented in the literature that substrate influence is structural in character. Our finding is significant in this respect. The function words of English, as exemplified in the conjunction/preposition until , may undergo change under the influence of the linguistic substratum.