Journal of East China Normal University (Philosoph ›› 2011, Vol. 43 ›› Issue (5): 120-124.

• 语言学研究 • Previous Articles     Next Articles

An Analysis of the Structure of “NP1NP2 Di VP”

TANG Yi-Li, QI Hu-Yang   

  • Online:2011-09-15 Published:2011-10-12
  • Contact: TANG Yi-Li, QI Hu-Yang
  • About author: TANG Yi-Li, QI Hu-Yang

Abstract: As a construction,“NP1NP2 di VP” has its motivation. The construction has a basic constructional meaning, which can express a kind of subjective quantity. It mainly expresses a large subjective quantity, in rare cases expresses a small subjective quantity, and sometimes needs to determine the meaning with contextual factors. The polynomial NP in the construction has some features. The NP’s rhythm is a form of 2+2; the order of language units embodies a feature of quantity; the polynomial NP is realizable essential condition of the constructional meaning; they must be a combination of same sememes. The presence and absence of “di” has close relationships with these factors: the provisionality of combination of the polynomial NP, whether or not the polynomial NP is a thematic role of VP; the prosody of the whole construction, whether or not VP is a complicated form. The key verbs in VP are action verbs and causative verbs; VP mostly is complicated; the relationship between VP and polynomial NP conforms to the principle of bound/unbounded.