A Study Of English And Chinese Ditransitive Constructions Under The Framework Of MP

Ditransitive Construction,as a common language phenomenon,has two types in English and Chinese: Double-object Construction and Dative-object Construction.A great majority of scholars have carried out studies on Ditransitive Construction under Government and Binding theory,while there are few researchers analyzing English and Chinese Ditransitive Constructions based on Minimalist Program.This thesis mainly investigates the following aspects: 1)the transformational relationship between DOC and DC;2)Case assignment process of two nominal phrases;3)the similarities and differences between English Ditransitive Construction and Chinese Ditransitive Construction.First of all,the definition of Ditransitive Construction is discussed and the classification of this construction is explored according to transference direction.And this study suggests that the basic semantic meaning of Ditransitive Construction is transference and the transference direction is rightward.The rightward Ditransitive Constructions can be classified into a lot of subcategories such as giving type,conveying type and creating type.Then,with regard to the derivation of Ditransitive Construction,there are two standpoints: transformational derivation and base-generated derivation.As for this question,this thesis discusses the similarities and differences between DOC and DC in terms of lexicon,syntax and semantics,attempting to find rules and restricted conditions,which suggests that the selection of DOC or DC is determined by semantics of verbs and noun phrases.In addition,it finds the semantic meaning of DOC and DC are different.In most conditions,DOC implies the semantic meaning of “ CAUSE TO HAVE”,and DC indicates the basic meaning of “CAUSE TO MOVE”.Sequentially,this thesis analyzes the derivation relationship between DOC and DC.It proposes that transformational relationship does not exist between DOC and DC and they are all base-generated within the framework of MP.In terms of the derivation of DOC and DC,English and Chinese have same process under the framework of MP.In the process of derivation,inner case is assigned to Direct Object whereas structure case is assigned to Indirect Object.Finally,this thesis makes a comparative study between English DOC and Chinese DOC and between English DC and Chinese DC,revealing that there are similarities and differences between English DOC and Chinese DOC and between English DC and Chinese DC.