I’m a theoretical linguist working on syntax, semantics and the syntax-semantics interface.
My research focuses on the argument structure of resultatives in Mandarin and other East Asian languages.
Here is a list of my research projects:
- Mandarin V-V and V-de resultatives
- Mandarin V-de/bu-V compounds
- Mandarin reciprocals
- Compound vs non-compound resultatives
- Thai resultatives
Mandarin V-V and V-de resultatives
Do V-V resultatives like (1) have the same underlying structure as V-de resultatives like (2)? If so, why are V-V resultatives more flexible in their argument realisation patterns than their V-de resultative counterparts?
V-V resultative:
(1)
玛丽染红了头发。
Mǎlì rǎn-hóng-le tóufa.
Mary dye-red-PFV hair
‘Mary dyed her hair red.’
V-de resultative:
(2)
*玛丽染得头发红了。
*Mǎlì rǎn de [tóufa hóng-le].
Mary dye DE hair red-PFV
Intended: ‘Mary dyed her hair red.’
(adapted from X. Zhang 2020)
Mandarin V-de/bu-V compounds
How should we analyse V-de/bu-V compounds like tī-dé/bù-duàn ‘kick-DE/BU-snap’ in (3)?
(3)
老魏踢得/不断那条木板。
Lǎo Wèi tī-dé/bù-duàn nà tiáo mùbǎn.
Lao Wei kick-DE/BU-snap that CLF plank
‘Lao Wei can/not make that plank snap by kicking.’ (Williams 2005:256)
Mandarin reciprocals
How do Mandarin reciprocals like hùxiāng give rise to scope ambiguity?
(4)
罗密欧和朱丽叶认为[他们互相喜欢]。
Luómìōu hé Zhūlìyè rènwéi [tāmen hùxiāng xǐhuān].
Romeo and Juliet think they HUXIANG like
(a) ‘Romeo and Juliet each think: “We like each other.”
(b) ‘Romeo thinks: “I like Juliet” and Juliet thinks: “I like Romeo”.’
Compound vs non-compound resultatives
Why are compound resultatives like those in Mandarin Chinese in (5) more flexible than non-compound resultatives in English in (6)?
(5)
老魏切钝了菜刀。
Lǎo Wèi qiē-dùn-le càidāo.
Lao Wei cut-dull-PFV knife
‘The knife became dull as a result of Lao Wei cutting something.’ (adapted from Williams 2005:61)
(6)
*John cut the knife dull.
Thai resultatives
Why do Thai resultatives appear to violate the Direct Object Restriction?
(7)
ธนาขี่ม้าเหนื่อย
tʰánaː kʰìː máː nɨàj
Thana ride horse tired
(a) ‘The horse became tired as a result of Thana riding it.’
(b) ‘Thana became tired as a result of riding the horse.’
(adapted from Sudmuk 2005)