6 Morphosyntax-semantics mapping in the grammar of property concepts: the view from English, Mandarin, and beyond
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Thomas Grano
Abstract
Two oppositions in the grammar of property concept lexemes are: the positive–comparative opposition (e. g., wise–wiser) and the adjective–noun opposition (e. g., wise–wisdom). We ask: How does each of these oppositions’ morphosyntactic relationship relate to its semantic relationship, and how (if at all) do these morphosyntax-semantic relations vary cross-linguistically? Reviewing and building on previous work on this question, we argue for three main points. First, comparative semantics is provided by a morpheme in syntax whereas positive semantics is achieved via covert contextual domain restriction of a quantifier. This quantifier is supplied by a possessive morpheme in the case of nominal property concept words and by the property concept word itself in the case of adjectives. Second, an investigation of the word-internal compositional semantics of derivationally complex property concept words like joy-ful and wis-dom suggests that adjectives like wise and their possessed nominal counterparts like have wisdom are truth-conditionally and in some cases compositionally equivalent. Third, we show that many Mandarin phrasal possessed property predicates like you jiazhi ‘have value’ and you pinwei ‘have taste’ closely parallel English derivationally complex predicates like valu-able and taste-ful, respectively, and we argue that this reflects a broader (analytic vs. synthetic) typological distinction between Mandarin and English. In this way, we aim to provide a first step toward connecting cross-linguistic variation in the grammar of property concepts to a broader theory of parametric variation.
Abstract
Two oppositions in the grammar of property concept lexemes are: the positive–comparative opposition (e. g., wise–wiser) and the adjective–noun opposition (e. g., wise–wisdom). We ask: How does each of these oppositions’ morphosyntactic relationship relate to its semantic relationship, and how (if at all) do these morphosyntax-semantic relations vary cross-linguistically? Reviewing and building on previous work on this question, we argue for three main points. First, comparative semantics is provided by a morpheme in syntax whereas positive semantics is achieved via covert contextual domain restriction of a quantifier. This quantifier is supplied by a possessive morpheme in the case of nominal property concept words and by the property concept word itself in the case of adjectives. Second, an investigation of the word-internal compositional semantics of derivationally complex property concept words like joy-ful and wis-dom suggests that adjectives like wise and their possessed nominal counterparts like have wisdom are truth-conditionally and in some cases compositionally equivalent. Third, we show that many Mandarin phrasal possessed property predicates like you jiazhi ‘have value’ and you pinwei ‘have taste’ closely parallel English derivationally complex predicates like valu-able and taste-ful, respectively, and we argue that this reflects a broader (analytic vs. synthetic) typological distinction between Mandarin and English. In this way, we aim to provide a first step toward connecting cross-linguistic variation in the grammar of property concepts to a broader theory of parametric variation.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- Introductory remarks 1
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Part I The morphosyntax of degree expressions
- 1 The rich internal structure of gradable adjectives 11
- 2 Degrees in Ukrainian deadjectival verbs 41
- 3 Two types of synthetic comparatives in Old Slavic 65
- 4 Reflections on comparatives and superlatives through a modular lens 99
- 5 More than a subordinate clause: coordination or subordination in comparatives, clausal or phrasal standards 149
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Part II The semantics of degree expressions
- 6 Morphosyntax-semantics mapping in the grammar of property concepts: the view from English, Mandarin, and beyond 199
- 7 Comparative morphemes are additive particles 237
- 8 Points of comparison 279
- 9 Reconsidering a parametric approach to cross-linguistic variation in degree constructions 307
- 10 A side road to degree interpretations 351
- 11 On the role of causation in sufficiency and excess 381
- Index 413
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- Introductory remarks 1
-
Part I The morphosyntax of degree expressions
- 1 The rich internal structure of gradable adjectives 11
- 2 Degrees in Ukrainian deadjectival verbs 41
- 3 Two types of synthetic comparatives in Old Slavic 65
- 4 Reflections on comparatives and superlatives through a modular lens 99
- 5 More than a subordinate clause: coordination or subordination in comparatives, clausal or phrasal standards 149
-
Part II The semantics of degree expressions
- 6 Morphosyntax-semantics mapping in the grammar of property concepts: the view from English, Mandarin, and beyond 199
- 7 Comparative morphemes are additive particles 237
- 8 Points of comparison 279
- 9 Reconsidering a parametric approach to cross-linguistic variation in degree constructions 307
- 10 A side road to degree interpretations 351
- 11 On the role of causation in sufficiency and excess 381
- Index 413
