Unravelling the competing dynamics of Chinese causative markers shi 使, ling 令, jiao1 叫 and jiao2 教: A diachronic analysis

Abstract

This study uses multinomial logistic regression models and mixed-effects binomial logistic models to examine the factors influencing the choice of Chinese causative markers shi 使 (‘make’), ling 令 (‘make’), jiao1 叫 (‘let’) and jiao2 教 (‘let’) from the 14th to the 20th century. The analyses uncover the complex competing dynamics among these alternative ways to express causation. Specifically, our examination reveals an overlap of contextual features between jiao1 and jiao2, which is likely to have contributed to the decline of the latter as a causative marker in contemporary Chinese. In contrast, ling exhibits a distinct usage pattern characterized by [ling + ren (‘people/person’) + emotion] constructions, presumably allowing it to maintain a stable presence despite its lower frequency compared to the widely used marker, shi. We address the challenges of model convergence and model selection by synthesizing consistent outcomes from multiple logistic regression models, thereby providing a comprehensive understanding of the examined data.