Noncanonical arguments via the high applicative
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Yafei Li
Abstract
This article develops a new account of Chinese NCAs. The representative analyses of the phenomenon in the literature were evaluated, accompanied with facts, some new, that help sort out the linguistic and extra-linguistic properties of the NCAs. The proposed account consists of two core elements: bare lexical roots without light verbs (in their popular sense) at either lexical or syntactic level of derivation, and the conditional use of the high applicative. All relevant facts are derived from the collaboration of these two elements once extra-linguistic factors are duly recognized and either incorporated into the analysis or set aside to avoid unnecessary distractions.
Abstract
This article develops a new account of Chinese NCAs. The representative analyses of the phenomenon in the literature were evaluated, accompanied with facts, some new, that help sort out the linguistic and extra-linguistic properties of the NCAs. The proposed account consists of two core elements: bare lexical roots without light verbs (in their popular sense) at either lexical or syntactic level of derivation, and the conditional use of the high applicative. All relevant facts are derived from the collaboration of these two elements once extra-linguistic factors are duly recognized and either incorporated into the analysis or set aside to avoid unnecessary distractions.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
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Part I. The structure of lexical and functional projections
- Finiteness, opacity, and Chinese clausal architecture 17
- Place and distance 77
- “Descriptive complements” are manner adverbials 111
- SVCs in disguise 133
-
Part II. Modal verb syntax
- Modal movement licensed by focus 165
- Negative modals and prohibitives in Taiwanese Southern Min 193
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Part III. Syntax-semantics interactions
- Skolemized topicality for indefinites and universal quantifier mei -phrases in Chinese 219
- Chinese comparatives 249
- Head dependency and degree words in Mandarin 293
- Constraints on the representation of anaphoric definiteness in Mandarin Chinese 301
- Noncanonical arguments via the high applicative 331
- Applied objects in Mandarin and the nature of selection 357
- On the syntax of incompleteness 395
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Part IV. The syntax and interpretation of particles
- On the syntax of mirativity 431
- On the mirative marker leh 4 in Taiwanese Southern Min 445
- Non-veridical kaN in Taiwanese Southern Min 479
- Sentence-internal discourse particles in Mandarin Chinese 509
-
Part V. Acquisition of syntactic structures
- V- gei vs. double object construction 539
- Predicting the unpredictable 555
- Index 575
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
-
Part I. The structure of lexical and functional projections
- Finiteness, opacity, and Chinese clausal architecture 17
- Place and distance 77
- “Descriptive complements” are manner adverbials 111
- SVCs in disguise 133
-
Part II. Modal verb syntax
- Modal movement licensed by focus 165
- Negative modals and prohibitives in Taiwanese Southern Min 193
-
Part III. Syntax-semantics interactions
- Skolemized topicality for indefinites and universal quantifier mei -phrases in Chinese 219
- Chinese comparatives 249
- Head dependency and degree words in Mandarin 293
- Constraints on the representation of anaphoric definiteness in Mandarin Chinese 301
- Noncanonical arguments via the high applicative 331
- Applied objects in Mandarin and the nature of selection 357
- On the syntax of incompleteness 395
-
Part IV. The syntax and interpretation of particles
- On the syntax of mirativity 431
- On the mirative marker leh 4 in Taiwanese Southern Min 445
- Non-veridical kaN in Taiwanese Southern Min 479
- Sentence-internal discourse particles in Mandarin Chinese 509
-
Part V. Acquisition of syntactic structures
- V- gei vs. double object construction 539
- Predicting the unpredictable 555
- Index 575
