Possessive constructions in Mandarin Chinese

Abstract

Possessive constructions in Mandarin Chinese exhibit a rich array of correlations between the possessor and possesee in the noun phrase, as well as in the verb phrase and the lexicon. They are typically manifested in the double-nominative constructions and the so-called ‘possessor-subject and possessee-object’ clauses. Significantly, possession interacts with the notion of definiteness, which displays interesting syntax-semantics interface in a number of constructions involving quantified and (in)definite noun phrases, raising important questions about the nature of this linguistic phenomenon. Movement, topicalisation and relativisation also characterize Chinese possessive phrases. These are governed by certain syntactic rules that are sensitive to semantic considerations. In the lexicon, different possessive orientations are reflected in different compounding strategies. Certain possessive expressions are triggered by sociolinguistic fators.