从裸词根的重新界定到轻动词的理论构建

Reflections on Redefining Bare Root and the Construction of vP Theory

汉语中的非典型论元现象表明,现有文献中对于裸词根的理解和使用仍值得商榷。如果以汉语为出发点来定义裸词根,即使最常被引用的闪语三辅音词根也只是形态学意义上的元素,不应该直接参与到造句之中。作为汉语裸词根可直接参与造句的进一步证据,本文用两类语料论证了汉语的主语和宾语一样,可以充当非典型论元。同时,裸词根的存在离不开轻动词,而轻动词的功能之一就是表达使动意义。与以往从语义中分解出轻动词的做法不同,本文用古汉语和班图语的事实证明,使动元素是否具有语音形态,才是决定其是否参与句法造句的必要条件。此外,通过回顾轻动词理论构建之初对五大思想的系统融合,本文呼吁在句法理论构建中增加结构时应保持审慎态度并对其制约机制加以积极探索。

The phenomenon of noncanonical arguments in Chinese points at the application of bare roots different from the mainstream use of the concept.In this view,semitic triconsonantal roots do not participate in syntactic structure and are only bare in the morphological sense.In support of the Chinese-motivated bare roots,two additional pieces of evidence are provided to suggest that the subject could function as a noncanonical argument within the language.By design,the existence of bare roots rests on the existence of light verbs.We argue that how a causativizing element E is structurally represented depends partially on whether E has a phonetic manifestation.Upon reviewing the initial construction of the vP theory and its comprehensive integration with five major ideologies,this article also advocates for a cautious approach in expanding the syntactic structure and actively exploring its constraining mechanisms.