In the Southwest Mandarin of Sichuan and Guizhou, gei ( 给 ) and gen ( 跟 ) have many similarities in the functions. Gen ( 跟 ) can be used not only as a comitative preposition, but also as a benefactive marker, a dative marker, and even as a givingverb, which has the same function as gei( 给 ) in Mandarin. The multifunctional evolution of semantics is the main reason for the overlap of the functions of gei ( 给 ) and gen ( 跟 ) . Gei ( 给 ) has experienced the semantic evolution of ″giving > be nefactive > human direction > comitative″, ″giving > benefactive > recipient ( before verb) ″ and ″giv ing > recipient ( after verb) ″, while gen ( 跟 ) has experienced the semantic evolution of ″comitative > human direction > benefactive > recipient > giving″. The use of the benefactive marker gen ( 跟 ) in Sichuan and Guizhou may have brought by the immigrants in Chinese history, which creates conditions for gen ( 跟 ) to evolve into a preposition that elicits the recipient. The givingverb gen ( 跟 ) evolved from gen ( 跟 ) that elicits the recipient in the structure of ″N + gen( 跟 ) + O + VP″. When N is both the given item and the deliverer, it activates the information in the sentence that expresses the giving event whereas ″gen( 跟 ) + O + VP″ can be reanalyzed as a serialverb structure from the adverbial head structure, and gen ( 跟 ) gradually becomes a givingverb by antigrammaticalization.
The Overlap of the Functions of Gei ( 给 ) and Gen ( 跟 ) in Sichuan and Guizhou Regions:Also on the Origins of Gen ( 跟 ) Indicating Giving. Journal of Guangzhou University (Social Science Edition). 2024, 23(3): 156-164