Intersective And Non-Intersective Ambiguity In Chinese Double Adjectival Modification

There's a great deal of difference between English and Chinese adjectival modification. Based on previous researches, this thesis mainly studies intersective and non-intersective ambiguity in Chinese double adjectival modification under the foundation of formal semantics and syntax. Such language phenomenon is not common in Chinese, but it does provide us a window to understand the similarities and differences between English and Chinese adjectival modification.In Chinese, the most important connection between adjectives and nouns is de. However, the intersective and non-intersective ambiguity is not only related to the presence or absence of de, but also lies in the distance between the adjective and the noun it modifies. This thesis intends to start from the perspective of the classification of adjectives: intersective and non-intersective. Then the following analysis is carried out from these four aspects:(1) reclassifying Chinese adjectives;(2) discussing the role de played in intersective and non-intersective ambiguity in Chinese double adjectival modification based on theories of formal semantics and syntax;(3) distance between adjectives and the noun they modify, which needs to be verified specifically with the help of the Adjective Ordering Restriction;(4) trying to find out solutions to the intersective and non-intersective ambiguity problem.Through the research and discussion, this thesis reaches a conclusion that the Adjectival Ordering Restriction applies well in intersective and non-intersective ambiguity in Chinese adjectival modification, and the position of the subordinator de has a decisive influence on the intersective and non-intersective ambiguity caused by adjectives. This research enriches Chinese adjectival modification theoretically, and also provides a practical reference for teaching Chinese as a foreign language.