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On SOV structure in contemporary Mandarin Chinese
Abstract
Linguists neglect the SOV structure because they assume that the BA-construction is the only SOV form in Chinese and SOV word order is only a means of contrast and emphasis. The current study proves that the SOV structure differs from the BA-construction although they share certain features. Also shown is the existence of a meaning-changing conversion in certain cases between SVO and SOV resulting the failure of SOV showing contrast or emphasis. Based on these two facts, it is believed that the SOV structure should be treated as a topic of its own. A comparative study of the SOV structure and the BA-construction provides some insight into the SOV structure. It has been found that the object in the SOV structure allows both definite and indefinite reference unlike the BA-construction, which permits definite reference only. The verb in the SOV structure needs only one feature (+ transitive). Without the other two features, (+ dynamic) and (+ extensive) possessed by the verb in the BA-construction, the SOV structure does not have to mean 'disposal' to make itself grammatically acceptable. The object in the SOV structure, although not in the S-initial position, is the main theme whereas the subject is reduced to a minor theme. This explains why a pronoun as an object is impermissible and why SOV, unlike OSV with an S-initial object, which can always be converted from SVO, has to seek help from a contrastive context or certain syntactic or emphatic ways of expression to make itself grammatical at any time.
Subject Area
Linguistics
Recommended Citation
Shen, Li, "On SOV structure in contemporary Mandarin Chinese" (1990). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI9108242.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI9108242