Query on the Argument of a “Minor Sentence”

  • SHI You-wei
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Online published: 2020-11-23

Abstract

As an attempt to theoretically reflection on Chinese language itself, a “minor sentence” is a term introduced to Chinese by Mr. ZHAO Yuan-ren. This has opened up a research path independent of the Indo-European perspective. However, many details in the theory of a “minor sentence” are doubtful: (1) a single sentence is a full sentence with two minor sentences as the subject and the predicate; (2) the subject and the predicate of a single sentence are comprised of one question and one answer; (3) the subject scope is excessively enlarged; (4) a single sentence is the smallest complex sentence, and a clause of a complex sentence is also a subject. In order to solve these problems centering on a “minor sentence”, we can replace a “minor sentence” with a phrase with a broader meaning and establish the principle of typicality. The typicality of a single sentence is that “the subject/topic is a reference, while the predicate/description is a statement”. This is also a reasonable basis for the distinction between a single sentence and a complex sentence in Chinese.

Cite this article

SHI You-wei . Query on the Argument of a “Minor Sentence”[J]. Journal of East China Normal University (Philosophy and Social Sciences), 2020 , 52(6) : 62 -75 . DOI: 10.16382/j.cnki.1000-5579.2020.06.008

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