制图理论下英汉语典型存现句生成机制的句法研究

A Syntactic Analysis of Typical Existential Sentences in English and Chinese Under the Framework of Cartography

存现句一直为句法学界研究的热点之一。本文在制图理论框架下,从句法-语用界面对英汉语典型存现句的生成机制进行对比分析。本文认为,信息结构和言语行为投射能够更清晰、直观地呈现英汉语典型存现句在语用层面的普遍性和差异性。英汉语典型存现句的普遍性主要体现为三个方面:第一,NP和VP的句法位置相同;第二,位于句首的成分均为话题;第三,在CoA层,语调表现出的言语行为在句法上的分布一致;二者的差异性主要体现为以下四个方面:(1)英语词库中有there可以满足T的EPP特征,属于主语突出语言,而汉语为深层无主语句,属于话题突出语言;(2)英语存现句中LP原位生成于动词补语位置,汉语存现句中LP移位至句首话题位置;(3)NP具有[-定指]和[+定指]双重特征,但条件不同;(4)句末语调可以体现英语存现句的言语行为,汉语不仅有语调,还有句末助词,使其句法制图更丰富和抽象。

The study of existential sentences has long been a hot topic in the field of syntax.This research provides a comparative analysis of the derivational mechanism of typical existential sentences in English and Chinese from the perspective of the syntax-pragmatics interface within the framework of Cartography.This research argues that the information structure and speech act projection can better display the universalities of and differences between English and Chinese existential sentences.The universalities of English and Chinese existential sentences are manifested in the following three aspects:firstly,the syntactic positions of NP and VP are the same;secondly constituents at the sentence-initial positions are topics;thirdly,at the level of CoA,intonation reflects consistent distribution of speech acts in syntax.The differences are summarized as follows:(1)the expletive‘there’can satisfy the EPP feature of T,making English a subject-prominent language,while Chinese is a topic-prominent language and it has a deep structure non-subject;(2)in English existential sentences,LP remains in the complement position of the verb without undergoing any movement,whereas LP moves to the sentence-initial topic position in Chinese existential sentences;(3)NP has the features of[-definite]and[+definite],but the conditions for these features are different;(4)while both languages exhibit intonation at the end of the sentence as a reflection of speech acts,Chinese also utilizes sentence-final particles,thus making its representation more diversified and abstract.