On the syntax-semantics interface of focus particles: the additive particle \u9084 hai \u201cHAI\u201d in Mandarin Chinese

Ching-Yu Helen Yang

doi:10.1186/s40655-016-0018-8

Abstract

This paper investigates the syntax-semantics interface of the focus particle 還 hai 'HAI' in Mandarin Chinese. In particular, this paper argues that the various interpretations of hai observed in the previous studies can be explained by the syntactic positions where it occurs. Based on the word order of hai and adverbials that occupy fixed positions, I map out the typography of hai: Hai occurring in the CP periphery is associated with the additive meaning. Hai that adjoins to AspP has the additive or temporal meaning. Hai adjoining to DegP is associated with the comparative or marginal meaning. I propose that hai only has one core sense, which is the additive reading (König 1991). By adopting the theory of alternative semantics (Rooth 1992), I propose that the various interpretations of hai result from the interaction between the additive sense, and the focus associate and the focus domain, which are restricted by the syntactic positions of hai.

Highlights

In many languages, aspectual adverbs can be associated with several readings, such as still in English and noch 'still' in German (Kӧnig 1991; Michaelis 1993)
5 Conclusion In this paper, I examine the distribution of the particle hai with the additive meaning, temporal meaning, comparative meaning, and marginal meaning in Mandarin Chinese
Through the word order between hai on the one hand and adverbials, aspects and modals, on the other hand, it is observed that there is a transparent mapping of the syntactic positions and the semantic interpretations of hai: the additive hai adjoins to AspP, IP, or MPEpi; the temporal hai is attached to AspP; the marginal hai and the comparative hai are DegP adjuncts

Summary

Introduction

Aspectual adverbs can be associated with several readings, such as still in English and noch 'still' in German (Kӧnig 1991; Michaelis 1993). 2.5 Syntacticizing the diverse senses of hai The syntactic positions of hai associated with different meanings are summarized as follows: The additive hai adjoins to AspP, IP or MPEpi; the temporal hai is an AspP adjunct; the comparative hai and the marginal hai are DegP adjuncts, as sketched in 16. Examples 23–24 show that the additive hai occurs to the left of hais associated with the temporal, marginal, and comparative meanings.

Results

Conclusion