Abstract

This work addresses a contrast in the encoding pattern of two kinds of events of caused change in Mandarin Chinese. Caused change of state events are typically expressed with a resultative verb compound, while caused change of location and caused motion events may be expressed with a monomorphemic verb. I argue that this asymmetry arises from two factors. One is a requirement in Mandarin that monomorphemic verbs of causation be agentive, which reflects a prototypical association between causers and volitional agents. The second is an ontological distinction between change of state and change of location. Changes of state may arise spontaneously without an external cause for any kind of individual. In contrast, change of location for one kind of entity – inanimates – requires the mediation of an external agent.

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