An Event-structure-based Approach To Chinese Possessum-object Construction

As a special possessive construction in modern Chinese,the Possessum-object Construction has always been one of the hot topics in the studies of Chinese grammar.For example,the sentence“??????”,a typical example of such Possessum-object construction,has been extensively studied by a lot of researchers since the 1950s.The reason why Possessum-object Construction has drawn considerable attention for such a long period of time is that the great non-adaptive relation,either syntactic or semantic,captured between the form and meaning of this construction.More specifically,although the Possessum-object Construction can be syntactically analyzed as an SVO structure,that is,“NP₁+V+NP₂”,the argument structure of the sentence does not reflect the semantic relations between the verb and both noun phrases?NP₁ and NP₂?.Therefore,a mismatch between form and meaning is attested in the construction.Scholars have adopted a variety of theories to describe and account for the mismatch of form and meaning in Possessum-object Construction,but so far,this intriguing mismatch has not been adequately described and plausibly interpreted.In order to solve the above problem,based on the collected data from many different sources,the thesis analyzes both the syntax and semantics of the Possessum-object Construction,aiming to address the following questions:1)How is the Possessum-object Construction related to any other construction?such as,Existential Construction??2)As a construction,what event structure does the Possessum-object Construction represent?3)As a special sentence pattern,what is the construction meaning of Possessum-object Construction?In response to these questions,this thesis focuses on the following issues.Firstly,the thesis investigates the syntactic structure and semantic structure relation between Possessum-object Construction and Existential Construction,exploring the semantic function of the verb and aspectual marker in constructions by analyzing their verbs,aspectual markers and the possessive relationship under the same structure.Secondly,the thesis figures out the attribute of the possessive relationship between NP₁ and NP₂,and judges the different semantic expressions of the two constructions and the relation between them.Thirdly,from the perspective of Event Structure,this thesis analyzes the event meaning of the semantic components within Possessum-object Construction,and investigates the semantic restrictions of the verb and aspectual marker“?”on the event of the construction,the order of the events and the relationship between the events.Finally,this thesis explores the event structure and construction meaning of Possessum-object Construction.Based on the syntactic and semantic analysis of the data,this thesis arrives at the following conclusions:1)Firstly,this study finds that there is a semantic inheritance relation between Possessum-object Construction and Existential Construction.Existential Construction just expresses appearance and disappearance of NP₂ at someplace,while Possessum-object Construction not only covers the appearance and disappearance of NP₂,but also includes the result of the occurrence of this event.That is,the effect of appearance and disappearance of NP₂ on NP₁.2)Secondly,the Possessum-object Construction is a typical cleft possessive construction,which expresses the result of a one-dimensional event structure.Specifically speaking,it is a one-dimensional event structure with binary events.One is an event that highlights the outcome,and the other is an unobtrusive event involving a person or thing associated with the subject.3)Finally,the construction meaning of the Possessum-object Construction can be manifested as follows:Under the structure of“NP₁+V+NP₂”,if there is a possessive relationship between the NP₁ and the NP_2,NP₁ is the possessor,and NP₂ is the possessum.When NP₂ appears,NP₁ gains NP₂,and when NP₂ disappears,NP₁ loses NP₂.It is indicated by this research that an Event-structure-based approach throws new light on the interpretation of Chinese Possessum-object Construction.