Semantic and discourse constraints on Chinese Bei-passives

Authors

  • Wenfang Fan Tsinghua University
  • Susumu Kuno Harvard University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1558/lhs.v8i2.207

Keywords:

Chinese passives, adversity passives, neutral passives, positive passives, major impacts, disposal, factitive verbs, functional syntax

Abstract

The semantic function of the ? bei passive sentence has been characterized in various ways. It has been claimed by some scholars that its primary function is to indicate that the referent of the subject, the speaker or the hearer is adversely affected by the action, event or state represented in the sentence. It has also been claimed that the construction can sometimes be used neutrally, without any adversity implications. It has further been claimed that it can sometimes be used with positive implications. But little attempt has been made in the past to show exactly when the construction acquires which of these three implications (i.e., adversative, neutral, and positive). This paper attempts to answer that question. It proposes that the semantic/discourse function of the bei-passive sentence is to indicate that the referent of the subject, the speaker (or the person whose point of view (s)he is representing) or the hearer receives a major impact which is above a certain threshold from the action, event, or state represented in the sentence. The impact can be either direct, as is the case with high-impact verbs (e.g., ? da ‘hit’, ?? kaichu ‘fire’), indirect (as is the case with low or no impact verbs such as ?? kanjian ‘see’, ? hen ‘hate’), or both. It shows that a generalization that is based on ‘EITHER a major direct impact OR a major indirect impact’ does not work. It proposes that the semantic/discourse function of the bei-passive sentence is to indicate that the SUM of the direct and indirect impacts that the referent of the subject, the speaker (or the person whose point of view (s)he is representing) or the hearer receives is at or above the threshold for a major impact.

Author Biographies

  • Wenfang Fan, Tsinghua University

    Wenfang Fan obtained a Ph.D. in Linguistics from Peking University in 1997. A professor and Ph.D supervisor of the Department of English Languages and Literatures at Tsinghua University. Her research interests include functional linguistics and TESOL.

  • Susumu Kuno, Harvard University

    Susumu Kuno obtained a Ph.D. in Linguistics from Harvard University in 1964. Served as a teaching member of the Harvard Department of Linguistics in various capacities, with a full professor appointment in 1968, and a professor emeritus appointment in 2004. His publications include: The Structure of the Japanese Language (MIT Press, 1973); Functional Syntax – Anaphora, Discourse and Empathy (University of Chicago Press, 1987); and Functional Constraints in Grammar (coauthored with Ken-ichi Takami; John Benjamins Publ. Co., 2004).

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Published

2013-11-26

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Fan, W., & Kuno, S. (2013). Semantic and discourse constraints on Chinese Bei-passives. Linguistics and the Human Sciences, 8(2), 207-242. https://doi.org/10.1558/lhs.v8i2.207

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