Quantifier scope ambiguity in Mandarin dative constructions

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

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Detail(s)

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 12th Generative Linguistics in the Old World in Asia & the 21st Seoul International Conference on Generative Grammar
Subtitle of host publication2019 Universal Grammar and Its Cross-linguistic Instantiations
EditorsSae-Youn Cho
Place of PublicationSeoul
PublisherHankook Munhwasa
Pages458-466
Number of pages9
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2019

Conference

Title12th Generative Linguistics in the Old World in Asia & the 21st Seoul International Conference on Generative Grammar (GLOW in Asia 12 and SICOGG 21)
LocationDongguk University
PlaceKorea, Republic of
CitySeoul
Period6 - 9 August 2019

Abstract

In this paper, we experimentally examined the scope interpretation of different types of doubly quantified DCs in Mandarin and found that pre-verbal GEI datives are scopally unambiguous. The interpretation of post-object GEI datives appears to be puzzling and challenging the Isomorphic Principle at first, but it becomes predictable once the overt DO-movement analysis is adopted, though we do need to assume that only the underlying syntax observes scope isomorphism. We also found that the linear order of the quantifiers is not a determinant factor to the scope interpretation of Mandarin DCs. In sum, we conclude that no genuine quantifier scope ambiguity is found in Mandarin DCs, modulo the overt movement analysis.

Bibliographic Note

Research Unit(s) information for this publication is provided by the author(s) concerned.

Citation Format(s)

Quantifier scope ambiguity in Mandarin dative constructions. / Gan, Tian; Tsai, Cheng-Yu Edwin.
Proceedings of the 12th Generative Linguistics in the Old World in Asia & the 21st Seoul International Conference on Generative Grammar: 2019 Universal Grammar and Its Cross-linguistic Instantiations. ed. / Sae-Youn Cho. Seoul: Hankook Munhwasa, 2019. p. 458-466.

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