现代汉语谓语省略中的焦点关联性及其允准限制研究

VP ellipsis associated with focus in Mandarin Chinese and its licensing restrictions

现代汉语谓语省略是一种与焦点相关联的语言现象。以往的研究往往借助动词是否移位的操作方法来考察谓语省略在现代汉语中的分布,缺乏对谓语省略的统一解释。本文指出副词成分在现代汉语谓语省略中是不可或缺的,进而采用焦点敏感算子投射的技术路线对现代汉语谓语省略句中焦点关联的语言现象进行了统一解释,即现代汉语谓语省略句中的副词成分可以成为焦点中心语,并通过具体的语境或句法推动对比焦点和极性焦点的实现,从而成为谓语省略的允准者。这一假设同样可以合理地阐释英语中的谓语省略结构以及汉语中其他的省略结构。

VP ellipsis in Mandarin Chinese is a linguistic phenomenon associated with focus. In previous studies,the methods in verb-movement detection are usually adopted to explore the distribution of VP ellipsis in Mandarin Chinese, which lacks unified interpretation. This paper argues that adverb constituent is indispensible in VP ellipsis in Mandarin Chinese, and the projection of focus-sensitive operator driven by adverb constituent offers a unified account of VP ellipsis in Mandarin Chinese satisfactorily. Specifically, when serving as the head of FP, the adverb constituent will facilitate the realization of different types of focus through concrete context or syntax, and thus become the licensor of VP ellipsis. This focus-based account could also illuminate VP ellipsis in English and other elliptical structures in Mandarin Chinese.