The Lexicalization Of English And Chinese Ergative Verbs

Using syntax-semantics interface approach as the theoretical underpinnings, this thesis presents a contrastive study on the similarities and differences between the lexicalizational features and morphosyntactic features of English and Chinese causative-inchoative alternating verbs.The underlying methodology of syntax-semantics interface studies is the assumption that the syntactic behavior of verbs is semantically determined. This thesis examines whether'change of state'is a common semantic feature to both English and Chinese causative-inchoative alternating verbs or not. The result of the study shows that Chinese and English alternating verbs express many kinds of similar "change of state". However, a great deal of English alternating verbs have no Chinese counterparts, that is, no equivalent Chinese causative-inchoative alternating verbs expressing the same meaning as their English counterparts. After a careful examination of the lexicalizational features of both English and Chinese alternating verbs, a conclusion can be drawn that cross-linguistically, lexicalization is another factor that influences the ability of verbs entering causative-inchoative alternation besides the semantic feature of'change of state'.Based on "Voice-Projection" theory, this thesis analyses the morphosyntactic features of English and Chinese causative-inchoative alternating verbs. The common feature between the two is both English and Chinese verbs with "cause unspecified" roots can alternate. The distinctions are as follow:while some English verbs with "internally caused" roots can alternate; Chinese verbs with "internally caused" roots can never alternate. Two structures of inchoative verbs are available in Chinese, one with Voice Projection and one without.