英语S-V语序构式体系内的英语中动构式探析

An Analysis of English Middle Construction in the System of English S-V Word-order Constructions

通过比较英语中动构式与英语语言中符合S-V语序的几种相关构式之间的关系,对英语中动构式进行了探讨。以非事件性为语义特征,考察英语中动构式在英语语法体系中的地位及其与相关构式之间的关系;以事件性、施事性、自控度作为参项,了解英语中动构式的句法形式、语义特征以及语用功能。将英语中动构式的句子分为典型中动句和非典型性中动句两大类,典型中动句用于表达受事或非施事主语的某种特性或固有属性,此类句子具有非事件性特征;非典型性中动句用于表达受事或非施事主语在特定情景类型下的特定事件中体现出来的某种特性。

This paper aims to probe into English Middle Construction by comparing the relationship between English Middle Construction and several related constructions in the system of S-V word-order constructions in English.By employing non-eventuality as one of the semantic properties to examine English Middle Construction in the frame of the S-V Constructions system, we can learn more clearly about the status of English Middle Construction in English grammar and its relations with other related constructions.It is also suggested that eventuality, agentivity and volitionality be adopted as the parameters to examine the syntactic and semantic properties.Sentences of English Middle Construction can be classified into two types, one of which is the typical non-event type that denotes the particular inherent quality of the patient-subject or non-agent subject, while the second of which is the non-typical type that denotes some properties of the patient-subject or non-agent subject in the particular situation type of event.