A Syntactic And Semantic Study Of Dou-quantification In Mandarin Chinese

The present thesis is a syntactic and semantic study of dou-quantification in Mandarin Chinese. It aims to: (a) find out the similarities and differences between leftward dou-quantified elements and rightward dou-quantified elements; (b) discover the factor causing the leftward shift of dou-quantified elements; (c) update the syntactic analysis of dou sentences within the framework of Chomsky's (1995) Minimalist Program in its new spirit of Derivation by Phase (hence, DbP) (Chomsky, 1999). To fulfill these three aims, the thesis addresses itself to four questions.First, what syntactic and semantic properties do the leftward dou-quantified elements have? The generally accepted idea is that dou-quantified elements lie to the left of dou, and must have plural interpretations (Lu, 1980; Lee, 1986; Cheng, 1995; Li, 2002; among many others). According to DPs' different internal constituents, we classify DPs into three types (bare NPs; Q(C)NPs, and D(Q)(C)NPs), and each receives a careful study on its referentiality, and the quantity it denotes. After a careful discussion of these three types of DP, we observe that those dou-quantified DPs have three semantic properties: (a) Denoting a set of more than one member; (b) Every member in the set is quantified by dou; (c) Definite in reference, or containing a quasi-universal quantifier. All these three properties cannot be omitted in order to guarantee a dou sentence's grammaticality. It is found that the dou-quantified wh-phrases and AdvPs have shared properties with dou-quantified DPs.Secondly, what properties and functions does dou own? Besides those properties and functions observed in previous literatures, we argue that dou functions as a secondary universal quantifier and secondary defmiteness marker. The reason is that the quantifier in a DP has a closer syntactic and semantic relation with the base NP in this DP than the adverbial quantifier dou does. When dou quantifies a DP, dou does not directly quantify every member in the set denoted by the base NP within that DP. Instead, the quantifier in that DP quantifies the set denoted by the base NP before dou quantifies it, and provides a subset for dou to quantify. Dou also functions as a secondary defmiteness marker, since it cannot change a DP's inherent indefiniteness, but can convert a referentially neutral DP into a definite one.Thirdly, how to derive dou sentences? This thesis proposes a DbP approach to the derivation of dou sentences. Following Dai's (2002a) analysis of adjuncts, we argue that the merger position of dou is AdvC which is between subjects and light verbs. It is proposed that c-command should be taken as the modification relation between dou and its quantified element. To derive deu-quantification the dou-quantified elements must be c-commanded by dou. After an analysis of the derivation of dou sentences, we argue that dou can only quantify an element that is externally merged into the CP that dou itself is merged in.Fourthly, what syntactic and semantic properties do the rightward dou-quantified elements have? The rightward dou-quantified elements all lie to the right of dou. They are: (a) Pronouns; (b) Interrogative wh-phrases; (c) Indefinite DPs. We observe that the rightward dou-quantified elements have the following properties: (a) Denoting a set consisting of more than one member; (b) Every member in the set is quantified by dou; (c) Inherently indefinite in reference; (d) Containing no quasi-universal quantifier.As argued in Chomsky (1995), Hatakeyama (1998), Dai (2002a), among others, some strong semantic features can cause topicalization. Since dou plays a role of a secondary universal quantifier and secondary defmiteness marker, we argue that when an element is quantified by dou, it gets an emphasis on the quantity it denotes, or gets a stronger definite interpretation. And it is this strong semantic feature causes the process of topicalization. As to those rightward dou-quantified elements, since they do not contain quasi-universal quantifiers,...