Abstract
The paper examines the interface of inherent properties of 'why/how' WH-Words and their syntactic positions in earlier Southern Min texts, hybrid playscripts written in a mixture of Chaozliou and Quanzhou dialects, dating back as early as 16 th century (Wu 2001a-d). The WH-Words falls into two major types: mih 4 based WH-Words and chai 7 based WH-Words. The meaning of each type of WH-Words is partially conditioned by the stmctural position it occupies. Four dedicated positions are found: force, premodal. preverbal and postclausal. Force, premodal. preverbal and postclausal WH-words are conducive to rhetorical question, cause/reason, manner, and piupose reading respectively. Most of 'why/how' WH-words are headed by cho 3 . I propose that starting out as a marker of focus cho 3 is instrumental in turning variable-bearing WH-words into adjunct WH-words.