On Subject Specificity and Theory of Syntax-Semantics Interface

This paper distinguishes two types of language, V-to-I type vs. V-to-V type, with a view to deriving two distinct patterns of associating (non-)specific interpretations with subject positions. In the former type, verbs move to a higher functional head, either overtly or covertly, and non-specific nu...

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Published in:Journal of East Asian linguistics Vol. 10; no. 2; pp. 129 - 168
Main Author: Tsai, Wei-Tien Dylan
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Kluwer Academic Publishers 01.04.2001
Subjects:
Beds
Chinese
Declarative Sentences
English
Grammatical constructions
Linguistic Theory
Modal Verbs
Nominative case
Numerals
Predicates
Predication
Quantification
Semantics
Subject
Syntactics
Syntax
Syntax Semantics Relationship
Verbs
ISSN:0925-8558, 1572-8560
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:This paper distinguishes two types of language, V-to-I type vs. V-to-V type, with a view to deriving two distinct patterns of associating (non-)specific interpretations with subject positions. In the former type, verbs move to a higher functional head, either overtly or covertly, and non-specific numeral indefinites may appear in [Spec, TP] at S-structure. This is the case with English, where cardinal subjects are commonplace. In the latter type, verbs do not move to a higher functional head, and non-specific numeral indefinites cannot appear in [Spec, TP] at S-structure. This is the case with Chinese, where cardinal subjects are relatively rare. Developing the idea that syntax-semantics mapping is cyclic and closely aligned with syntactic predication, we provide a principled account of an asymmetry between Chinese declarative and modal constructions with respect to their subject specificity.
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ISSN:0925-8558
1572-8560
DOI:10.1023/A:1008321327978