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Verb-Object Constructions in Mandarin: a comparison with Ewe
Published/Copyright:
September 7, 2013
Abstract
This article concerns Verb-Object Constructions (VOCs) in Mandarin in comparison with the same type of constructions in Ewe. VOCs are verbs that necessarily take an overt object. Taking Essegbey's (1999) analysis of Ewe VOCs as starting point, I propose different criteria to classify VOCs in Mandarin and I provide evidence for the existence of four different classes. Then, by comparing VOCs in the two languages, I propose a syntactic analysis for each class of VOCs. Finally, I argue that Mandarin VOCs are the reflection of different stages of a lexicalization process that is not affecting Ewe VOCs. I conclude arguing that Ewe belongs to a more “analytical” stage than Mandarin.
Published Online: 2013-09-07
Published in Print: 2013-09-07
©[2013] by Walter de Gruyter Berlin Boston
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