Descriptive complement constructions as concealed pseudoclefts in Chinese

Cheng-Yu Edwin Tsai

Descriptive complement constructions as concealed pseudoclefts in Chinese

Research output: Chapters, Conference Papers, Creative and Literary Works › RGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication) › peer-review

Abstract

In this paper it is argued that the Descriptive Complement Construction in Chinese can be understood as pseudocleft structures, in which the subject is a headless relative containing a null nominal head with reference to event properties whereas the descriptive adjectival phrase serves as the main predicate. By treating the verbal suffix de as a gerund head, relevant phenomena to the internal structure of the headless relative (e.g., object fronting and verb copying) can be explained in a systematic manner. This novel approach has implications for both gerundive nominalization in Chinese and the existence of "adjunct-oriented" headless relatives with complementary interpretive characteristics to ordinary "argument-oriented" headless relatives in this language.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Proceedings of the 29th West Coast Conference on Formal Linguistics
Editors	Jaehoon Choi, E. Alan Hogue, Jeffrey Punske, Deniz Tat, Jessamyn Schertz, Alex Trueman
Place of Publication	Somerville, MA, USA
Publisher	Cascadilla Press
Pages	259-267
Number of pages	9
ISBN (Print)	9781574734515
Publication status	Published - 2012
Externally published	Yes
Event	29th West Coast Conference on Formal Linguistics (WCCFL 29) - University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States Duration: 22 Apr 2011 → 24 Apr 2011 https://linguistics.arizona.edu/node/713

Conference

Conference	29th West Coast Conference on Formal Linguistics (WCCFL 29)
Abbreviated title	WCCFL 29
Country/Territory	United States
City	Tucson, Arizona
Period	22/04/11 → 24/04/11
Internet address	https://linguistics.arizona.edu/node/713

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@inproceedings{f6bf2c10c6094afca024b4992e4c7a33,

title = "Descriptive complement constructions as concealed pseudoclefts in Chinese",

abstract = "In this paper it is argued that the Descriptive Complement Construction in Chinese can be understood as pseudocleft structures, in which the subject is a headless relative containing a null nominal head with reference to event properties whereas the descriptive adjectival phrase serves as the main predicate. By treating the verbal suffix de as a gerund head, relevant phenomena to the internal structure of the headless relative (e.g., object fronting and verb copying) can be explained in a systematic manner. This novel approach has implications for both gerundive nominalization in Chinese and the existence of {"}adjunct-oriented{"} headless relatives with complementary interpretive characteristics to ordinary {"}argument-oriented{"} headless relatives in this language. ",

author = "Tsai, {Cheng-Yu Edwin}",

year = "2012",

language = "English",

isbn = "9781574734515",

pages = "259--267",

editor = "Jaehoon Choi and Hogue, {E. Alan} and Punske, {Jeffrey } and Tat, {Deniz } and Schertz, {Jessamyn } and Trueman, {Alex }",

booktitle = "Proceedings of the 29th West Coast Conference on Formal Linguistics",

publisher = "Cascadilla Press",

note = "29th West Coast Conference on Formal Linguistics (WCCFL 29), WCCFL 29 ; Conference date: 22-04-2011 Through 24-04-2011",

url = "https://linguistics.arizona.edu/node/713",

}

Tsai, C-YE 2012, Descriptive complement constructions as concealed pseudoclefts in Chinese. in J Choi, EA Hogue, J Punske, D Tat, J Schertz & A Trueman (eds), Proceedings of the 29th West Coast Conference on Formal Linguistics. Cascadilla Press, Somerville, MA, USA, pp. 259-267, 29th West Coast Conference on Formal Linguistics (WCCFL 29), Tucson, Arizona, United States, 22/04/11.

Descriptive complement constructions as concealed pseudoclefts in Chinese. / Tsai, Cheng-Yu Edwin.
Proceedings of the 29th West Coast Conference on Formal Linguistics. ed. / Jaehoon Choi; E. Alan Hogue; Jeffrey Punske; Deniz Tat; Jessamyn Schertz; Alex Trueman. Somerville, MA, USA: Cascadilla Press, 2012. p. 259-267.

Research output: Chapters, Conference Papers, Creative and Literary Works › RGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication) › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - Descriptive complement constructions as concealed pseudoclefts in Chinese

AU - Tsai, Cheng-Yu Edwin

PY - 2012

Y1 - 2012

N2 - In this paper it is argued that the Descriptive Complement Construction in Chinese can be understood as pseudocleft structures, in which the subject is a headless relative containing a null nominal head with reference to event properties whereas the descriptive adjectival phrase serves as the main predicate. By treating the verbal suffix de as a gerund head, relevant phenomena to the internal structure of the headless relative (e.g., object fronting and verb copying) can be explained in a systematic manner. This novel approach has implications for both gerundive nominalization in Chinese and the existence of "adjunct-oriented" headless relatives with complementary interpretive characteristics to ordinary "argument-oriented" headless relatives in this language.

AB - In this paper it is argued that the Descriptive Complement Construction in Chinese can be understood as pseudocleft structures, in which the subject is a headless relative containing a null nominal head with reference to event properties whereas the descriptive adjectival phrase serves as the main predicate. By treating the verbal suffix de as a gerund head, relevant phenomena to the internal structure of the headless relative (e.g., object fronting and verb copying) can be explained in a systematic manner. This novel approach has implications for both gerundive nominalization in Chinese and the existence of "adjunct-oriented" headless relatives with complementary interpretive characteristics to ordinary "argument-oriented" headless relatives in this language.

UR - http://www.lingref.com/cpp/wccfl/29/paper2710.pdf

UR - http://www.lingref.com/cpp/wccfl/29/

UR - http://www.lingref.com/cpp/wccfl/29/abstract2710.html

M3 - RGC 32 - Refereed conference paper (with host publication)

SN - 9781574734515

SP - 259

EP - 267

BT - Proceedings of the 29th West Coast Conference on Formal Linguistics

A2 - Choi, Jaehoon

A2 - Hogue, E. Alan

A2 - Punske, Jeffrey

A2 - Tat, Deniz

A2 - Schertz, Jessamyn

A2 - Trueman, Alex

PB - Cascadilla Press

CY - Somerville, MA, USA

T2 - 29th West Coast Conference on Formal Linguistics (WCCFL 29)

Y2 - 22 April 2011 through 24 April 2011

ER -

Descriptive complement constructions as concealed pseudoclefts in Chinese

Abstract

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The syntax and semantics of descriptive V-de constructions: A primary predication analysis

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