The syntax and semantics of descriptive V-de constructions
A primary predication analysis
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.
Article outline
- 1.Introduction
- 2.Previous diagnostics: A-not-A, negation, and scope
- 2.1Distribution of the A-not-A form
- 2.2Distribution of negation
- 2.3Scope
- 3.Proposal
- 3.1Syntax: Nominalization and primary predication
- 3.2Semantics: Structured event quantification
- 4.Further arguments for the proposed analysis
- 4.1APd ≠ secondary predicates
- 4.2APd ≠ adverbial adjuncts
- 4.3Syntactic evidence
- 5.Concluding remarks
- Acknowledgements
- Abbreviations
- Notes
-
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