Abstract
This short paper investigates a colloquial construction in Mandarin Chinese in which a secondary predicate may be preceded by the enclitic ta (它 ta “it”) and the classifier 個 ge “GE.” The paper argues that ge heads a dependent clause, where the enclitic is the subject of the secondary predicate. Therefore, first, the classifier is not used as a counting unit in this numeral classifier language; and second, in addition to PRO, another form of the subject for a dependent clause is attested in secondary predicate construction in this language.
Highlights
This short paper investigates a colloquial construction in Mandarin Chinese in which a secondary predicate may be preceded by the enclitic ta (它 ta “it”) and the classifier 個 ge “GE.” The paper argues that ge heads a dependent clause, where the enclitic is the subject of the secondary predicate
1 Introduction: the state-denoting GE construction In this paper, I discuss the syntax of a special secondary predicate construction in colloquial Mandarin Chinese
As shown in 7 above, TAc does not contrast with any element in the context, showing that it is a pronominal subject of the dependent clause
Summary
This short paper investigates a colloquial construction in Mandarin Chinese in which a secondary predicate may be preceded by the enclitic ta (它 ta “it”) and the classifier 個 ge “GE.” The paper argues that ge heads a dependent clause, where the enclitic is the subject of the secondary predicate. The right-edge expressions in other examples in 10 are patient-oriented secondary predicates. Having established that (yi)-ge heads an nP and takes the secondary predicate as its complement in a SGC, I turn to my analysis of TAc in the construction.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
