On the argument structure of Chinese compounds

Abstract

汉语复合词主谓式属于"少数派",以施事为主语的复合词在汉语是不存在的,主谓式复合词的主语基本上属于客体。既然汉语复合词没有轻动词,也就没有施事。客体跟轻动词没有关系,即使复合词缺乏轻动词。也没有影响到客体的出现。汉语词法的所谓主谓式复合词在形式上都应该分析为偏正式。"偏"在词法上属于附接语。究竟偏正式复合词应该理解为主谓关系还是修饰关系,主要是一个功能的问题,而不是形式的问题。 It is observed that‘NV’compounds are relatively rare in Chinese.No examples of‘NV’compounds in which‘N’is interpreted as Agent can be found and‘N’is normally interpre- ted as Theme.The nonexistence of agentive‘N’in the‘NV’compounds is due to the lack of the light verb in their argument structure.It is further argued that‘N’in the‘NV’compounds is ana- lyzed as a modifier,which is an adjunct morphologically.Whether the adjunct should be interpreted as the modifier or the‘subject’is subject to functional considerations,not syntactic considerations.