英语中动结构:典型与非典型

The Typical and Non-typical Middle Constructions in English

中动结构具有主动的形式、被动的意义,动词看似不及物,实则及物。它独特的句法构造引发了众多研究。英语中动结构具有原型及家族相似性特征,因此可有典型和非典型之分。学界普遍认为,英语中动结构原型具有下列界定属性:1)受事论元为主语,2)隐含施事论元,3)通指性和非事件性,4)事件责任。典型的中动结构主语和动词可换位还原成逻辑上的动宾结构。非典型英语中动结构的各组成部分形式上有变体,主语不一定是逻辑上的受事论元,而是可由工具、处所、材料等旁格论元担任。除了设计特征类,所有中动结构表达的意义都可概括为:主语所表述事物的内在特征(能)使动词所表述的事情以修饰语所表述的方式发生。

Middle constructions assume the form of an active but with the meaning of a passive.Its verb seems intransitive but is actually transitive.Its unique structure has given rise to a great deal of research interest.Characterized by prototypicality and family resemblance,the English middles can be analyzed in terms of typicality and non-typicality.Four properties are found to define the typical middles,i.e.,patient as subject,implicit agent,genericity and event responsibility,with their subject and verb capable of being transposed to recover the original V-Object structure.Non-typical middles assume various forms and take non-patient cases of instrument,location,material as the subject.Except the design-feature type,all English middles express the meaning of 'the inherent property of the subject is responsible for the occurrence of the event denoted by the verb in a way as denoted by the modifier'.