基于语段的英汉典型内嵌小句推导机制分析

A Phase-based Analysis of the Derivational Mechanism of Typical Embedded English and Chinese Small Clauses

根据den Dikken的语段扩展理论,本文探讨英汉典型内嵌小句的推导机制,提出英汉典型内嵌小句是以联系词R为中心语的RP语段,小句主语与谓语形成一致关系,主语受谓语题元标记,而其语义无解格特征由主句动词赋值。例外授格和动结结构中不同类型小句的主语被动化移位不一致现象可以依据R有无词缀特征来解释。该特征促使例外授格结构中动词小句的R移位到主句动词V,从而造成语段扩展,小句RP失去其语段地位,而VP为新的语段,小句主语因不在语段的边界位置而不能被动化移出,而名词、形容词和介词小句中的中心语R没有词缀特征,语段扩展不存在,小句主语可以被动化移出。该分析还可以用来解释提升结构中的小句结构。

In the light of the phase extension theory put forward by den Dikken,this study investigates the derivational mechanism of typical embedded small clauses in English and Chinese.We propose that English and Chinese typical embedded small clauses are RP phases headed by a relator(R).The subject and the predicate of the small clause form the agreement relationship.The subject NP is theta-marked by the predicate,and its uninterpretable case feature is valued by the matrix verb.According to the presence or absence of R’s affix feature,we can explain the passivized movement inconsistency of subjects of different types of small clauses in ECM and resultative constructions.This feature triggers the R of verbal small clauses in ECM constructions to move to the position of matrix verb,causing the phase extension.The small clause RP loses its phasehood,and VP becomes a new phase.The subject is not at the edge of phase,and thus it cannot be moved out in passivization.Whereas,the head R in nominal,adjectival and prepositional small clauses does not have the affix feature,there is no phase extension,and thus the subject of the small clause can be moved out in passivization.The proposed analysis can also be extended to the small clauses in raising constructions.