The Diversity and Multilayered-ness of Derivational Morphology in Chinese

Abstract

This paper proposes the following points: (1) Apart from changing word classes—a function much discussed in the literature—derivational morphology in Chinese may have been used to distinguish phrasal differences on a level below sentence structure, such as the distinction between direct vs. indirect objects, adjectival vs. adverbial modifiers, as well as various types of causative constructions. (2) As a grammatical domain of morphology and on account of the differing perspectives related to it, “cognition” leads to the development of inward/outward, downward/upward, exocentric/endocentric, inchoative/non-inchoative and similar distinctions. (3) While many cases of derivational morphology display contrasts of meaning by means of phonetic alternations, the reverse type of displaying contrasts in meaning not through phonetic contrasts (i.e. by zero-contrasts as a means of derivation) also exists. (4) At different historical stages or in areal varieties, Chinese has used derivational morphology to mark parts of speech or specific meanings. (1) to (3) above reflect the diversified nature of the derivational morphology in Chinese, while (4) reflects its multilayered-ness.