On Reflexivity and Reflexive Predicate in Mandarin Chinese

• Main Authors: Lin, Shi-Yue Jeff, 林仕岳
• Other Authors: Tsai, Wei-tien Dylan
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2010
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/75006212639779906357

碩士 === 國立清華大學 === 語言學研究所 === 98 === This thesis provides an investigation to the notion of reflexivity and reflexive predicate, and focus on the two types of zi—‘self’—constructions: argumental type and adverbial type. The argumental zi-construction refers to the reflexive predicate which expresses the meaning of reflexive. Firstly, the properties of the argumental zi-construction are provided. (1). Argumental zi-construction: a. Property I: the argumental zi-construction is reflexive. b. Property II: the antecedent of zi must be local. c. Propert III: zi is unambiguous in VP ellipsis construction. d. Propert IV: near-reflexivity is prohibited in the argumental zi-construction. e. Propert V: the set of zi-verbs is opaque and unproductive. The properties indicate that zi should be analyzed differently from the bare reflexive ziji ‘self’. I follow Reinhart and Reuland (1993) to argue that zi is a marker of lexical function which reflexive-marks a given predicate. Furthermore, the detail of the process of reflexive-marking is provided. Specifically, zi plays the role of being an arity operation which reflexive bundles the theta features in a given lexical entry (Reinhart 2002). The analysis would provide a natural account to the properties of the argumental zi-construction and the divergence between zi and ziji. Besides, the typological issues about reflexive predicate is discussed, and I propose that Mandarin Chinese should be set to the lexicon language according to Reinhart and Reuland’s (2005) lexicon-syntax parameter. The properties of the adverbial zi-construction are demontrated here, and I argue that the adverbial zi-construction conveys a reflexive predicate in the semantic component. (2). Adverbial zi-construction: a. Property I: The adverbial zi-construction can take an internal argument. b. Property II: the interpretation is twofold: anti-causativity and anti-comitativity. c. Property III: the adverbial zi-construction is unproductive. d. Property IV: the empty subject in the quasi-reflexive ECM is locally bound. e. Property V: inalienable possession and the zi-verb blocking effect. The analysis shows that the reflexive semantic predicate of the adverbial zi-construction combines with the theta features to bring out the anti-causativity reading and anti-comitativity reading (Tsai 2005, 2006), respectively. In addition, I propose that the adverbial zi-construction which takes a CP as an internal argument in fact involves a λ-operator and a PRO in the embedded clause (Chierchia 1989). Finally, the analysis complement the deficiency of the lexicon-syntax parameter about the problem of reflexive ECM construction. That is, a lexicon language may allow a quasi-reflexive ECM construction which contains a PRO as the empty subject.