Mandarin Chinese
A Functional Reference Grammar
1st Edition
Published on 20. April 1989
Book
Paperback/Softback
720 pages
978-0-520-06610-6 (ISBN)
Description
This reference grammar provides, for the first time, a description of the grammar of "Mandarin Chinese", the official spoken language of China and Taiwan, in functional terms, focusing on the role and meanings of word-level and sentence-level structures in actual conversations.
More details
Edition
First Edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Berkerley
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 222 mm
Width: 149 mm
Thickness: 25 mm
Weight
998 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-520-06610-6 (9780520066106)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Charles N. Li is Professor of Linguistics and Chairperson, Linguistics Department, University of California, Santa Barbara. Sandra A. Thompson is Professor of Linguistics, University of California, Santa Barbara.
Content
Preface to the Paperback Edition
Preface
Conventiom Used in Examples
Abbreviations
1 Introduction
l. l The Chinese Language Family
1.2 The Phonology of Mandarin
1.2.1 Initials
1.2.2 Finals
1.2.3 Tones
1.2.4 Phonetic Effects of the Retroflex Suffix
2 Typological Description
2.1 The Structural Complexity of Words: Mandarin as
an Isolating Language
2.1.1 Morphemes Occurring with Nouns
2. l. 2 Morphemes Occurring with Verbs
2.2 Monosyllabicity: The Number of Syllables per Word
2.3 Topic Prominence
2.4 Word Order
2.4.1 The Word Order Typology
2.4.2 Word Order in Mandarin
3 Word Structure
3.1 Morphological Processes
3. 1. 1 Reduplication
3.1.2 Affixation
3.2 Compounds
3.2.1 The Meaning of Compounds
3.2.2 Nominal Compounds
3.2.3 Verbal Compounds
3.2.4 Subject-Predicate Compounds
3.2.5 Verb-Object Compounds
3.2.6 Antonymous Adjectives Forming Nominal Compounds
3.2.7 Minor Types of Compounds
4 Simple Declarative Sentences
4.1 Topic and Subject
4.1.1 Characterization of Topic
4.1.2 Characterization of Subject
4.1.3 Comparison of Topic and Subject
4.1.4 Double-Subject Sentences
4.1.5 Comparison with Chao's Analysis
4.1.6 Time and Locative Phrases
4.1.7 Further Examples
4.1.8 Topic as a Discourse Element
4.1. 9 Topic and Coreference in Discourse
4.2 The Noun Phrase
4.2.1 Classifier Phrases/Measure Phrases
4.2.2 Associative Phrases
4.2.3 Modifying Phrases
4.2.4 The Order of Elements in a Noun Phrase
4.2.5 Definiteness and Referentiality
4.2.6 Pronouns
4.2.7 Reflexives
4. 3 The Verb Phrase
4.3.1 Types of Verb Phrases
5 Auxiliary Verbs
5.1 Auxiliary Verb versus Verb
5.2 Auxiliary Verb versus Adverb
5.3 List of Auxiliary Verbs
6 Aspect
6.1 The Perfective Aspect
6.1.1 Where to Use -le: A Bounded Event
6.1.2 Where Not to Use -le
6.1.3 -le in Imperatives
6.1.4 -le Does Not Mean Past Tense
6.1.5 -le Does Not Mean Completion
6.1.6 Summary
6.2 The Durative Aspect
6.2.1 Semantic Types of Verbs and the Durative Aspect
Markers -me and zai
6.2.2 Complex Sentences with the Durative Aspect
Marker -zhe
6.3 The Experiential Aspect
6.4 The Delimitative Aspect
6.5 Summary
7 Sentence-Final Particles
7.1 le
7. 1. 1 The Communicative Function of le
7 .1.2 Where Not to Use le
7. l. 3 Perfective -le versus CRS le
7.2 ne
7.3 ba
7.4 ou
7.5 a/ya
7.6 Conclusion
8 Adverbs
8. 1 Movable Adverbs
8.1.1 Movable Adverbs of Time
8. l. 2 Movable Adverbs of Attitude
8.2 Nonmovable Adverbs
8.2.1 Manner Adverbs
8.2.2 Nonmanner Adverbs
8.3 Negation and Adverbs
8.3.1 Negation and Movable Adverbs
8.3.2 Negation and Nonmovable Adverbs
8.4 Adverbs and the bii Construction
8.5 Quantity Adverbial Phrases
9 Coverbs/Prepositions
9. l The Function of Coverbs
9. l. 1 Occurrence with Aspect Markers
9.1.2 Coverbs That Can Function as Verbs
9. 2 Representative List of Co verbs
10 Indirect Objects and Benefactives
10. 1 gei Obligatory
10.2 gei Optional
10.3 gei Forbidden
10.4 Apparent Indirect Objects
10.5 Explanation for the Indirect Object Facts
10.6 Benefactive Noun Phrases, and Preverbal Indirect Object
10.7 Other Functions of gei
11 Locative and Directional Phrases
11. l Locative Phrases
11. l. l The Structure of Locative Phrases
11.1.2 The Position of the Locative Phrase in the Sentence
11.2 Directional Phrases with dao 'to'
12 Negation
12.1 The Position and Scope of Negative Particles
12.2 The Functions of bu and mei(you)
12.2. 1 Variation in the Meaning of Sentences with bu
12.2.2 Types of Verb Phrases
12.2.3 Resultative Verb Compounds
12.3 mei(you) Is Not a Past Tense Negative Particle
12.4 Negation and Aspect
12.5 Negating Some Element other than a Simple Verb Phrase
12.6 Summary
13 Verb Copying
13.1 Where Verb Copying Occurs
13.2 Grammatical Properties of the Verb-Copying Construction
14 The Imperative
15 The bii Construction
15.1 The bd Noun Phrase
15.2 Disposal
15.3 bii Sentences without a Subject
15.4 bii . .. gei
15.5 When to Use the bii Construction
16 The bei Construction
16.1 Use and Function
16.1.1 Adversity
16. l. 2 Disposal
16.2 Structural Properties
16.2.1 Indirect Object Adversely Affected
16.2.2 The bei Noun Phrase Can Be Inanimate
16.3 bii and bei
16.4 Variant Forms
17 Presentative Sentences
17.1 Existential and Positional Verbs
17.2 Verbs of Motion
18 Questions
18.1 The Four Types of Questions
18.2 Question-Word Questions
18.2. 1 Question Words in Questions
18.2.2 Question Words as Indefinite Pronouns
18.3 Disjunctive Questions
18.3. I Questions with Constituents Connected by haishi
18.3.2 A-not-A Questions
18.4 Tag Questions
18.5 Particle Questions
18.6 Differences between A-Not-A Questions and
Particle Questions
18.7 Questions Serving as Subjects or Direct Objects of a Verb
18.8 Answers to Questions
19 Comparison
19.1 Comparative Constructions
19.1.1 Dimension
19.1.2 Subject/Topic and the Standard
of Comparison
19.2 Superlatives
20 Nominalization
20.1 A Nominalization Functioning as a Noun Phrase
20.2 Nominalizations Modifying a Head Noun
20.2.1 Relative Clause Constructions
20.2.2 A Nominalization Serving as the Complement
to an Abstract Head Noun
20.3 The shi . . . de Construction
21 Serial Verb Constructions
21. I Two or More Separate Events
21.2 One Verb Phrase/Clause Is the Subject or Direct Object
of Another
21.2. I The Second Verb Phrase/Clause Is the Direct Object
21.2.2 The First Verb Phrase/Clause Is the Subject of the
Second Verb
21.2.3 The Clause That Is a Subject or Direct Object
is a Question
21.3 Pivotal Constructions
21.4 Descriptive Clauses
21.4.1 Realis Descriptive Clauses
21.4.2 lrrealis Descriptive Clauses
21.5 Summary
22 The Complex Stative Construction
22. I Inferred meanings
22. I . I Manner Inferred
22.1.2 Extent Inferred
22. I. 3 Either Manner or Extent Inferred
22.2 General Structural Properties
23 Sentence Linking
23. I Forward Linking
23. I. I Forward Linking with a Linking Element
23. I. 2 Forward Linking without a Linking Element
23. I. 3 The Semantics of Conditionals
23.2 Backward Linking
23.2.1 Adverbial Backward-Linking Elements in
Clause-Initial Position
23.2.2 Nonmovable Adverbs as BackwardLinking
Elements
24 Pronouns in Discourse
24.1 Zero Pronouns
24.2 Pronouns
24.3 Syntactic Constraints on Zero Pronouns
References
Index
Preface
Conventiom Used in Examples
Abbreviations
1 Introduction
l. l The Chinese Language Family
1.2 The Phonology of Mandarin
1.2.1 Initials
1.2.2 Finals
1.2.3 Tones
1.2.4 Phonetic Effects of the Retroflex Suffix
2 Typological Description
2.1 The Structural Complexity of Words: Mandarin as
an Isolating Language
2.1.1 Morphemes Occurring with Nouns
2. l. 2 Morphemes Occurring with Verbs
2.2 Monosyllabicity: The Number of Syllables per Word
2.3 Topic Prominence
2.4 Word Order
2.4.1 The Word Order Typology
2.4.2 Word Order in Mandarin
3 Word Structure
3.1 Morphological Processes
3. 1. 1 Reduplication
3.1.2 Affixation
3.2 Compounds
3.2.1 The Meaning of Compounds
3.2.2 Nominal Compounds
3.2.3 Verbal Compounds
3.2.4 Subject-Predicate Compounds
3.2.5 Verb-Object Compounds
3.2.6 Antonymous Adjectives Forming Nominal Compounds
3.2.7 Minor Types of Compounds
4 Simple Declarative Sentences
4.1 Topic and Subject
4.1.1 Characterization of Topic
4.1.2 Characterization of Subject
4.1.3 Comparison of Topic and Subject
4.1.4 Double-Subject Sentences
4.1.5 Comparison with Chao's Analysis
4.1.6 Time and Locative Phrases
4.1.7 Further Examples
4.1.8 Topic as a Discourse Element
4.1. 9 Topic and Coreference in Discourse
4.2 The Noun Phrase
4.2.1 Classifier Phrases/Measure Phrases
4.2.2 Associative Phrases
4.2.3 Modifying Phrases
4.2.4 The Order of Elements in a Noun Phrase
4.2.5 Definiteness and Referentiality
4.2.6 Pronouns
4.2.7 Reflexives
4. 3 The Verb Phrase
4.3.1 Types of Verb Phrases
5 Auxiliary Verbs
5.1 Auxiliary Verb versus Verb
5.2 Auxiliary Verb versus Adverb
5.3 List of Auxiliary Verbs
6 Aspect
6.1 The Perfective Aspect
6.1.1 Where to Use -le: A Bounded Event
6.1.2 Where Not to Use -le
6.1.3 -le in Imperatives
6.1.4 -le Does Not Mean Past Tense
6.1.5 -le Does Not Mean Completion
6.1.6 Summary
6.2 The Durative Aspect
6.2.1 Semantic Types of Verbs and the Durative Aspect
Markers -me and zai
6.2.2 Complex Sentences with the Durative Aspect
Marker -zhe
6.3 The Experiential Aspect
6.4 The Delimitative Aspect
6.5 Summary
7 Sentence-Final Particles
7.1 le
7. 1. 1 The Communicative Function of le
7 .1.2 Where Not to Use le
7. l. 3 Perfective -le versus CRS le
7.2 ne
7.3 ba
7.4 ou
7.5 a/ya
7.6 Conclusion
8 Adverbs
8. 1 Movable Adverbs
8.1.1 Movable Adverbs of Time
8. l. 2 Movable Adverbs of Attitude
8.2 Nonmovable Adverbs
8.2.1 Manner Adverbs
8.2.2 Nonmanner Adverbs
8.3 Negation and Adverbs
8.3.1 Negation and Movable Adverbs
8.3.2 Negation and Nonmovable Adverbs
8.4 Adverbs and the bii Construction
8.5 Quantity Adverbial Phrases
9 Coverbs/Prepositions
9. l The Function of Coverbs
9. l. 1 Occurrence with Aspect Markers
9.1.2 Coverbs That Can Function as Verbs
9. 2 Representative List of Co verbs
10 Indirect Objects and Benefactives
10. 1 gei Obligatory
10.2 gei Optional
10.3 gei Forbidden
10.4 Apparent Indirect Objects
10.5 Explanation for the Indirect Object Facts
10.6 Benefactive Noun Phrases, and Preverbal Indirect Object
10.7 Other Functions of gei
11 Locative and Directional Phrases
11. l Locative Phrases
11. l. l The Structure of Locative Phrases
11.1.2 The Position of the Locative Phrase in the Sentence
11.2 Directional Phrases with dao 'to'
12 Negation
12.1 The Position and Scope of Negative Particles
12.2 The Functions of bu and mei(you)
12.2. 1 Variation in the Meaning of Sentences with bu
12.2.2 Types of Verb Phrases
12.2.3 Resultative Verb Compounds
12.3 mei(you) Is Not a Past Tense Negative Particle
12.4 Negation and Aspect
12.5 Negating Some Element other than a Simple Verb Phrase
12.6 Summary
13 Verb Copying
13.1 Where Verb Copying Occurs
13.2 Grammatical Properties of the Verb-Copying Construction
14 The Imperative
15 The bii Construction
15.1 The bd Noun Phrase
15.2 Disposal
15.3 bii Sentences without a Subject
15.4 bii . .. gei
15.5 When to Use the bii Construction
16 The bei Construction
16.1 Use and Function
16.1.1 Adversity
16. l. 2 Disposal
16.2 Structural Properties
16.2.1 Indirect Object Adversely Affected
16.2.2 The bei Noun Phrase Can Be Inanimate
16.3 bii and bei
16.4 Variant Forms
17 Presentative Sentences
17.1 Existential and Positional Verbs
17.2 Verbs of Motion
18 Questions
18.1 The Four Types of Questions
18.2 Question-Word Questions
18.2. 1 Question Words in Questions
18.2.2 Question Words as Indefinite Pronouns
18.3 Disjunctive Questions
18.3. I Questions with Constituents Connected by haishi
18.3.2 A-not-A Questions
18.4 Tag Questions
18.5 Particle Questions
18.6 Differences between A-Not-A Questions and
Particle Questions
18.7 Questions Serving as Subjects or Direct Objects of a Verb
18.8 Answers to Questions
19 Comparison
19.1 Comparative Constructions
19.1.1 Dimension
19.1.2 Subject/Topic and the Standard
of Comparison
19.2 Superlatives
20 Nominalization
20.1 A Nominalization Functioning as a Noun Phrase
20.2 Nominalizations Modifying a Head Noun
20.2.1 Relative Clause Constructions
20.2.2 A Nominalization Serving as the Complement
to an Abstract Head Noun
20.3 The shi . . . de Construction
21 Serial Verb Constructions
21. I Two or More Separate Events
21.2 One Verb Phrase/Clause Is the Subject or Direct Object
of Another
21.2. I The Second Verb Phrase/Clause Is the Direct Object
21.2.2 The First Verb Phrase/Clause Is the Subject of the
Second Verb
21.2.3 The Clause That Is a Subject or Direct Object
is a Question
21.3 Pivotal Constructions
21.4 Descriptive Clauses
21.4.1 Realis Descriptive Clauses
21.4.2 lrrealis Descriptive Clauses
21.5 Summary
22 The Complex Stative Construction
22. I Inferred meanings
22. I . I Manner Inferred
22.1.2 Extent Inferred
22. I. 3 Either Manner or Extent Inferred
22.2 General Structural Properties
23 Sentence Linking
23. I Forward Linking
23. I. I Forward Linking with a Linking Element
23. I. 2 Forward Linking without a Linking Element
23. I. 3 The Semantics of Conditionals
23.2 Backward Linking
23.2.1 Adverbial Backward-Linking Elements in
Clause-Initial Position
23.2.2 Nonmovable Adverbs as BackwardLinking
Elements
24 Pronouns in Discourse
24.1 Zero Pronouns
24.2 Pronouns
24.3 Syntactic Constraints on Zero Pronouns
References
Index