Deriving various affected subjects in bei-passives

Abstract

This paper investigates the thematic types and derivations of subjects in Mandarin bei-passives. Based on an examination of the categorial status of bei discussed in the literature, we try a new approach by adopting Liu and Huang’s view that the mechanism of deriving bei-passives is argument raising (in which bei is a semi-lexical verb heading the Voice projection), and propose a simplified and unified account of bei-passives’ Experiencer and Possessor subjects, as well as their typical Patient subjects. Specifically, we propose that the high applicative gei proposed in Hsu and Qu can account structurally for the source of the Experiencer in bei-passives. We then present how the structure proposed in this paper accounts for Possessor related subjects in bei-passives, and explain the interpretations and the possible derivation of an extra implicit affected subject in bei-passives.