Article published In: Asian Languages and Linguistics
Vol. 5:2 (2024) ► pp.210–250
Analysis of the Chinese passive/disposal combined-occurrence constructions
A case study of the Bei-Ba constructions
Published online: 6 February 2025
https://doi.org/10.1075/alal.24004.che
https://doi.org/10.1075/alal.24004.che
Abstract
This study uses Bei-Ba constructions as a case study to investigate the Chinese passive/disposal
combined-occurrence constructions. By comparing the synchrony and diachrony of the Bei-Ba constructions, it is found that while
ancient Bei-Ba constructions have four different types, contemporary Bei-Ba constructions expanded to include a new type (Type
III). The reason why Type III Bei-Ba constructions emerged is twofold: the expansion of the scenario in which Bei-Ba constructions
reside provides the possibility for the emergence of Type III Bei-Ba constructions; the need for expressing negation leads to the
necessity of the emergence of Type III Bei-Ba constructions. Although contemporary Bei-Ba constructions developed a new type, the
general tendency of the Bei-Ba constructions is a decrement in both type and token frequency. This process of decrement cannot be
avoided by Bei-Ba constructions, because: (1) they are less competitive than similar constructions on the Information Processing
Time; (2) their lower frequency further results in their decrement. Theoretically, this study has shed light on the decrement of
constructions and uncovered that the two determinants are the principle of economy and frequency.
Article outline
- 1.Introduction
- 2.Data and methodology
- 3.The classification of the contemporary Bei-Ba Cxns
- 4.The characteristics of the five types of contemporary Bei-Ba Cxns
- 4.1Contemporary Type I Bei-Ba Cxns
- 4.1.1The syntactic constituent of the three arguments in contemporary Type I Bei-Ba Cxns
- 4.1.2The relationships of the three arguments in contemporary Type I Bei-Ba Cxns
- 4.1.3The syntactic constituent of the VP in contemporary Type I Bei-Ba Cxns
- 4.1.4The semantics of the VP in contemporary Type I Bei-Ba Cxns
- 4.2The other four types of contemporary Bei-Ba Cxns
- 4.1Contemporary Type I Bei-Ba Cxns
- 5.The attributes of the ancient Bei-Ba Cxns
- 5.1Ancient Type I Bei-Ba Cxns
- 5.1.1The syntactic constituent of the three arguments in ancient Type I Bei-Ba Cxns
- 5.1.2The relationships of the three arguments in ancient Type I Bei-Ba Cxns
- 5.1.3The syntactic constituent of the VP in ancient Type I Bei-Ba Cxns
- 5.1.4The semantics of the VP in ancient Type I Bei-Ba Cxns
- 5.2The other three types of ancient Bei-Ba Cxns
- 5.1Ancient Type I Bei-Ba Cxns
- 6.The development of the Bei-Ba Cxns
- 6.1The syntactic and semantic development of the Bei-Ba Cxns
- 6.2The emergence of Type III Bei-Ba Cxns
- 6.3The decrement of the Bei-Ba Cxns
- 7.Conclusions
- Notes
- Abbreviations
References
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