Abstract:

This paper discusses five types of ambiguous noun phrases in Chinese grammar: “N+de+V”, “V+de+N”, nominal “V+N”, “N+ (V+N)”, and “N1+N2”. The ambiguity in the first four structures is related to the absolutive case properties of the nouns within the structure. These nouns can assume the semantic role of the subject of an intransitive verb or the patient of a transitive verb (like the properties of absolutive constituents in ergative languages). In a context-free setting, these two semantic roles exist in a superimposed state, akin to Schr?dinger’s cat, leading to two possible semantic interpretations. However, once placed in a specific context, their respective semantic roles become precisely determined (like quantum collapse). The fifth type, “N1+N2”, is particularly unique. If both nouns possess lexical agentive features, they can act as either agent or patient to each other, resulting in two distinct semantic interpretations.

Key words: absolutive case, noun phrases, structural ambiguity, semantic roles