The syntax and semantics of descriptive V-de constructions

IF 0.1 4区 文学 0 LANGUAGE & LINGUISTICS
C. Tsai
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引用次数: 2

Abstract

This paper tackles the long-standing problem of the phrase structure of the descriptive V-de construction in Mandarin, and proposes a variant of the Primary Predication analysis. I argue that the suffix -de is a nominalizing head that turns the verb to which it attaches into a nominal event argument, which is in turn predicated over by the descriptive adjectival phrase, the primary predicate of the construction. This syntactic analysis allows for a straightforward explanation for the presupposition-focus semantics of this construction based on structured event quantification. In addition, it is shown that previous arguments that go against the Primary Predication hypothesis (including the distribution of the A-not-A form and negation, and the scope relation between an IP-level element and the adjectival phrase) either do not constitute counterevidence or are simply irrelevant. Further support for the proposal is provided that draws on a number of syntactic properties of the descriptive V-de construction and on the distinction between the descriptive adjectival phrase on the one hand and secondary predicates and adverbial adjuncts on the other hand.
描述性V-de结构的句法与语义
本文针对长期存在的汉语形容词性结构问题,提出了一种主谓语分析的变体。我认为后缀-de是一个名词化的词头,它将它所附的动词变成一个名词性事件论点,而这个论点又由描述性形容词短语(结构的主要谓语)来预测。这种句法分析允许基于结构化事件量化对这种结构的预设焦点语义进行直接解释。此外,研究表明,先前反对主要谓词假设的论点(包括A-not-A形式和否定的分布,以及IP级元素与形容词短语之间的范围关系)要么不构成反证,要么根本不相关。该建议得到了进一步的支持,它借鉴了描述性V-de结构的许多句法特性,以及描述性形容词短语与次谓语和状语附加词之间的区别。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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来源期刊
CiteScore
0.60
自引率
0.00%
发文量
6
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