1887
Volume 10, Issue 1
  • ISSN 2213-8706
  • E-ISSN: 2213-8714
USD
Buy:$35.00 + Taxes

Abstract

Abstract

The present study focuses on the refutatory -sentences in Chinese. The main idea is two-fold. First, contrary to the previous accounts arguing for the interrogative nature of refutatory sentences, we argue that refutatory sentences exclude the interrogative force and should be distinguished from rhetorical questions accordingly. Second, we will show that all -words bearing the refutatory interpretation should occur as adjuncts, which are syntactically placed in the left periphery. Two subtypes of refutatory adjuncts, namely, propositional refutatory -adjuncts and modal refutatory -adjuncts, are further classified in this study. The former is semantically akin to the pure negator , while the latter semantically relates to modality.

Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1075/ijchl.22005.yin
2023-06-30
2025-04-20
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

References

  1. Caponigro, I., & Sprouse, J.
    (2007) Rhetorical questions as questions. Proceedings of Sinn und Bedeutung, 111: 121–133.
    [Google Scholar]
  2. Cheng, L.-S. L.
    (1991) On the typology of wh-questions. Ph.D. dissertation, MIT.
  3. Cheung, Y.-L.
    (2008) The negative wh-construction. Ph.D. dissertation, UCLA.
  4. Collins, C.
    (1991) Why and how come. More Papers on Wh-Movement, MIT Working Papers in Linguistics, 151: 31–45.
    [Google Scholar]
  5. Fitzpatrick, J.
    (2005) The whys and how comes of presupposition and NPI licensing in questions. InJ. Alderete, C.-H. Han, & A. Kochetov (Eds.), Proceedings of the 24th West Coast Conference on Formal Linguistics (pp.138–145). Cascadilla Press.
    [Google Scholar]
  6. Giannakidou, A., & Cheng, L. L. S.
    (2006) (In)definiteness, polarity, and the role of wh-morphology in free choice. Journal of Semantics, 231: 135–183. 10.1093/jos/ffl001
    https://doi.org/10.1093/jos/ffl001 [Google Scholar]
  7. Gutierrez-Rexach, J.
    (1997) The semantic basis of NPI licensing in questions. Proceedings of the 8th Student Conference in Linguistics, MIT Working Papers in Linguistics, 311: 359–376.
    [Google Scholar]
  8. Han, C. H.
    (2002) Interpreting interrogatives as rhetorical questions. Lingua, 1121: 201–229. 10.1016/S0024‑3841(01)00044‑4
    https://doi.org/10.1016/S0024-3841(01)00044-4 [Google Scholar]
  9. Hsieh, M. L.
    (2001) Form and meaning: negation and question in Chinese. Ph.D. dissertation, University of Southern California.
  10. Hu, J.
    (2019) Prominence and Locality in Grammar: The Syntax and Semantics of Wh-Questions and Reflexives. Routledge. 10.4324/9780429273209
    https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429273209 [Google Scholar]
  11. Hua, D.
    (2000) On wh quantification. Ph.D. dissertation, City University of Hong Kong.
  12. Huang, C.-T. J.
    (1982) Logical relation in Chinese and the theory of grammar. Ph.D. dissertation, MIT.
  13. Huang, C.-T. J., & Ochi, M.
    (2004) Syntax of the hell: two types of dependencies. Proceedings-NELS, 341: 279–294.
    [Google Scholar]
  14. Kiparsky, P., & Kiparsky, C.
    (1970) Fact. InM. Bierwisch & K. E. Heidolph (Eds.), Progress in Linguistics, pp.143–173. Mouton de Gruyter. 10.1515/9783111350219.143
    https://doi.org/10.1515/9783111350219.143 [Google Scholar]
  15. Kiss, A.
    (2015) On Chinese negative wh-constructions and causal/denial-how questions. Master’s thesis, Leiden University.
    [Google Scholar]
  16. Li, Y.-H. A.
    (1992) Indefinite wh in Mandarin Chinese. Journal of East Asian Linguistics, 11: 125–155. 10.1007/BF00130234
    https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00130234 [Google Scholar]
  17. Lin, J.-W.
    (1992) The syntax of zenmeyang ‘how’ and weishenme ‘why’ in Mandarin Chinese. Journal of East Asian Linguistics, 11: 293–331. 10.1007/BF00130555
    https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00130555 [Google Scholar]
  18. Liu, C.-M. L.
    (2022) Refutatory na-sentences in Mandarin Chinese. International Journal of Chinese Linguistics, 91: 266–303. 10.1075/ijchl.21001.liu
    https://doi.org/10.1075/ijchl.21001.liu [Google Scholar]
  19. Liu, Y.
    (2001) Shiyong Xiandai Hanyu Yufa [Practical modern Chinese grammar]. Shangwu Yinshuguan [The Commercial Press].
    [Google Scholar]
  20. Lu, Z., & Shi, D.
    (2022) Fanwen biaoji yu beijing minti – ‘na’ de jufa yuyi fenxi [Rhetorical marker and background proposition – The syntax and semantics of Chinese na]. Paper presented at theWorkshop on Theoretical Studies of Chinese Syntax and Semantics of Covert Negation. Shanghai: Fudan University. Nov. 5–6.
    [Google Scholar]
  21. Lǚ, S.
    (1953) Yufa Xuexi [Study on grammar]. Zhongguo Qingnian Chubanshe [China Youth Press].
    [Google Scholar]
  22. (1980) Xiandai Hanyu Babai Ci [Eight hundred words of modern Chinese language]. Shangwu Yinshuguan [The Commercial Press].
    [Google Scholar]
  23. Ochi, M.
    (2004) How come and other adjunct wh-phrases: a cross-linguistic perspective. Language and Linguistics, 51: 29–57.
    [Google Scholar]
  24. Pan, V. J.
    (2014) Deriving special questions in Mandarin Chinese: A comparative study. InJ. Park & I. Lee (Eds.), Comparative Syntax: Proceedings of the 16th Seoul International Conference on Generative Grammar, pp.349–368. The Korean Generative Grammar Circle.
    [Google Scholar]
  25. (2015) Mandarin peripheral construals at the syntax-discourse interface. The Linguistic Review, 321: 819–868. 10.1515/tlr‑2015‑0005
    https://doi.org/10.1515/tlr-2015-0005 [Google Scholar]
  26. (2022) Deriving head-final order in peripheral domain of Chinese. Linguistic Inquiry, 531: 121–154. 10.1162/ling_a_00396
    https://doi.org/10.1162/ling_a_00396 [Google Scholar]
  27. Romero, M., & Han, C. H.
    (2004) On negative yes/no questions. Linguistics and Philosophy, 271: 609–658. 10.1023/B:LING.0000033850.15705.94
    https://doi.org/10.1023/B:LING.0000033850.15705.94 [Google Scholar]
  28. Sadock, J. M.
    (1971) Queclaratives. In7th Regional Meeting of the Chicago Linguistic Society, pp.223–232. Chicago Linguistics Society.
    [Google Scholar]
  29. (1974) Towards a Linguistic Theory of Speech Acts. Academic Press.
    [Google Scholar]
  30. Shao, J.
    (2013) Yiwenju de jiegou leixing yu fanwenju de zhuanhua guanxi yanjiu [The conversion relationship between the structure types of interrogative sentences and rhetorical questions]. Hanyu Xuexi [Chinese Language Learning], 21: 3–10.
    [Google Scholar]
  31. Shi, Y.
    (2006) Xiandai hanyu yiwen biaoji de gantan yongfa [Exclamatory usages of question devices in contemporary chinese]. Hanyu Xuebao [Chinese Linguistics], 41: 14–26.
    [Google Scholar]
  32. Tsai, W.-T. D.
    (1994) On economizing A-bar dependencies, Ph.D. dissertation, MIT.
  33. Tsai, W-T. D.
    (1999) The hows of why and the whys of how. UCI Working Papers in Linguistics, 51: 155–184.
    [Google Scholar]
  34. Tsai, W.-T. D.
    (2015) On the topography of Chinese modals. InUr Shlonsky (Ed.), Beyond Functional Sequence, pp.275–294. Oxford University Press. 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780190210588.003.0015
    https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780190210588.003.0015 [Google Scholar]
  35. van Rooy, R.
    (2003) Negative polarity items in questions: Strength as relevance. Journal of Semantics, 201: 239–273. 10.1093/jos/20.3.239
    https://doi.org/10.1093/jos/20.3.239 [Google Scholar]
  36. Xu, H.
    (1985) Shitan fanwenju yuyi xingcheng de zhu yinsu [Factors to forming the semantics of rhetorical questions]. Liaoning Daxue Xuebao [Journal of Liaoning University], 31: 66–68.
    [Google Scholar]
  37. Xu, L.
    (1990) Remarks on LF movement in Chinese questions. Linguistics, 281: 355–382. 10.1515/ling.1990.28.2.355
    https://doi.org/10.1515/ling.1990.28.2.355 [Google Scholar]
  38. Yang, C.-Y. B.
    (2015) Locating wh-intervention effects at CP. InW.-T. D. Tsai (Ed.), The Cartography of Syntactic Structures 11: The Cartography of Chinese Syntax, pp.153–186. Oxford University Press. 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780190210687.003.0005
    https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780190210687.003.0005 [Google Scholar]
  39. Zhu, D.
    (1982) Yufa Jiangyi [Lecture notes on grammar]. Shangwu Yinshuguan [The Commercial Press].
    [Google Scholar]
/content/journals/10.1075/ijchl.22005.yin
Loading
/content/journals/10.1075/ijchl.22005.yin
Loading

Data & Media loading...

  • Article Type: Research Article
Keyword(s): negation; refutatory wh-sentences; rhetorical questions; wh-adjuncts
This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was successful
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error