A Study On The Semantic Of Middle Construction In Chinese

Traditional grammar arranges the voice into active voice and passive voice. But with the development of research, it was discovered that some sentences,that share the characteristics of both active voice and passive voice.From the form point of view it is active, but from the sematic point of view it is passive. Scholars define the voice of such sentences as the middle voice. The sentences with the expression of the middle voice is called"the middle construction".Studies on middle construction abroad have a long history. But the research in China starts lately, the study is also inadequate. Chinese scholars regard generally the"NP + V qilai / V shangqu / V zhe + AP"as the middle construction. Most scholars focus their research on the form of the structure of the middle construction, or explain the motivation from the perspective of generative grammar. Few researchers reseach the meaning of the middle construction.We believe that the middle construction in Chinese constitute mainly NP,VP (V qilai /V shangqu /V zhe)AP.NP is the subject. VP and AP are the predicate. Between VP and AP exists a modificational relation. The verbs,that can enter the NP + V qilai+ AP, are bivalent verbs,that can reflect the sensitivity of agent more easily accessible in this form. NP + V shangqu+ AP demand that the verb has [+ attachment] semantic features. We believe that the NP + V zhe+ AP form is an alternative form of NP + V qilai+ AP. Generally the verbs,that can enter the NP + Vqilai + AP form ,can also enter NP + Vzhe + AP form. But the bisyllabic verbs cannot enter the NP + V zhe+ AP form. We are of the opinion that this may be affected by the rhythm.The middle construction has three semantic directions, NP,V and agent.When the semantic direction of AP points NP, the VP can be removed. When the AP is in the semantic direction agent, the VP general can not be deleted. This is because AP and NP are closely connected, there is no intermediary VP can also suppress. When the semantic direction of the AP point agent, AP and the implied agent closely, while the implied agent can be derived through the VP, therefore VP can not be deleted. Accordingly, we divide the middle construction into two types. On the one hand the verb can be deleted ,on the other hand the verb can not be deleted.Middle construction have three attached compositions of verbs"-qilai""-shangqu"and"-zhe". Their common semantic are continuity."-qilai"accentuates continuity. But some cases have a"start meaning". The"-shangqu"means"to tend on something"."-zhe"stresses"continuity". Because"-shangqu"has a more concrete sense, it is generally required for the argument of location NP. As"-qilai"and"-zhe"are highlighting"continuity","-qilai"and"-zhe"are generally not interchangeable. Consequently"-qilai"will generally be replaced by"-zhe". But when"-qilai"stresses the"start meaning", it generally can not be replaced by"-zhe".