1887
Volume 23, Issue 2
  • ISSN 1606-822X
  • E-ISSN: 2309-5067

Abstract

Abstract

In this paper we comment on the maximality approach to Mandarin Chinese initiated by Giannakidou & Cheng (2006) and modified by Xiang (2008), showing that the approach fails (1) to explain several linguistic phenomena (e.g. the interaction between ‘which’-phrases and , the distributive effect of , and the exclusiveness of ), (2) makes incorrect predictions concerning the interpretations of -sentences, and (3) suffers from various theoretical problems (e.g. compositional difficulty). After refuting the maximality approach, the paper argues that treating as a device for encoding universal quantification gives the above issues a more cogent explanation, has a wider coverage of language data, and also avoids the theoretical problems with the maximality approach.

Available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1075/lali.00106.fen
2022-03-29
2025-02-08
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

/deliver/fulltext/lali.00106.fen.html?itemId=/content/journals/10.1075/lali.00106.fen&mimeType=html&fmt=ahah

References

  1. Alonso-Ovalle, Luis & Menéndez-Benito, Paula
    2010 Modal indefinites. Natural Language Semantics18(1). 1–31. 10.1007/s11050‑009‑9048‑4
    https://doi.org/10.1007/s11050-009-9048-4 [Google Scholar]
  2. Brasoveanu, Adrian
    2008 Donkey pluralities: Plural information states versus non-atomic individuals. Linguistics and Philosophy31(2). 129–209. 10.1007/s10988‑008‑9035‑0
    https://doi.org/10.1007/s10988-008-9035-0 [Google Scholar]
  3. Brisson, Christine
    2003 Plurals, all, and the nonuniformity of collective predication. Linguistics and Philosophy26(2). 129–184. 10.1023/A:1022771705575
    https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022771705575 [Google Scholar]
  4. Chen, Li
    2013Chinese polarity items. Hong Kong: City University of Hong Kong. (Doctoral dissertation.)
    [Google Scholar]
  5. Cheng, Lisa Lai-Shen
    1991On the typology of wh-questions. Cambridge: MIT. (Doctoral dissertation.)
    [Google Scholar]
  6. 2009 On every type of quantificational expression in Chinese. InGiannakidou, Anastasia & Rathert, Monika (eds.), Quantification, definiteness, and nominalization, 53–75. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
    [Google Scholar]
  7. Cheng, Lisa Lai-Shen & Huang, James C.-T.
    1996 Two types of donkey sentences. Natural Language Semantics4(2). 121–163. 10.1007/BF00355411
    https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00355411 [Google Scholar]
  8. Constant, Noah & Gu, Chloe C.
    2010 Mandarin ‘even’, ‘all’ and the trigger of focus movement. University of Pennsylvania Working Papers in Linguistics16(1). 21–30. (In the Proceedings of the 33rd Annual Penn Linguistics Colloquium, Article 4.)
    [Google Scholar]
  9. Dayal, Veneeta
    1997 Free relatives and ever: Identity and free choice readings. InLawson, Aaron (ed.), Proceedings of the 7th Semantics and Linguistic Theory Conference (SALT 7), 99–116. Ithaca: Cornell University. 10.3765/salt.v7i0.2787
    https://doi.org/10.3765/salt.v7i0.2787 [Google Scholar]
  10. Feng, Yuli
    2014A semantic study on distributive effects in Mandarin Chinese. Hong Kong: City University of Hong Kong. (Doctoral dissertation.)
    [Google Scholar]
  11. 2018Yuyan luoji yu yiyi–Lun yuyan shuliang biaoda de yuyi kehua [Language, logic and meaning–On the semantic interpretation of quantificational expressions in language]. Shanghai: Fudan University Press.
    [Google Scholar]
  12. Feng, Yuli & Pan, Haihua
    2017 Jigaishuo yiding biyao ma?–Tan jigaishuo zai yuyi yanjiu zhong de yingyong ji qi juxianxing [Is the notion of cover necessary: Another look at the application of cover in semantic studies and its potential problems]. Dangdai Yuyanxue [Contemporary Linguistics] 2017(3). 379–395.
    [Google Scholar]
  13. 2018 Zailun “dou” de yuyi – Cong qiongjinxing he paitaxing tanqi [Revisiting the semantics of dou–From the perspectives of exhaustivity and exclusiveness]. Zhongguo Yuwen [Studies of the Chinese Language] 2018(2). 177–194.
    [Google Scholar]
  14. Geurts, Bart
    2007 Existential import. InComorovski, Ileana & von Heusinger, Klaus (eds.), Existence: Semantics and syntax (Studies in Linguistics and Philosophy 84), 253–271. Dordrecht: Springer.
    [Google Scholar]
  15. Giannakidou, Anastasia
    2001 The meaning of free choice. Linguistics and philosophy24(6). 659–735. 10.1023/A:1012758115458
    https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1012758115458 [Google Scholar]
  16. Giannakidou, Anastasia & Cheng, Lisa Lai-Shen
    2006 (In)Definiteness, polarity, and the role of wh-morpholgy in free choice. Journal of Semantics23(2). 135–183. 10.1093/jos/ffl001
    https://doi.org/10.1093/jos/ffl001 [Google Scholar]
  17. Hole, Daniel P.
    2004Focus and background marking in Mandarin Chinese: System and theory behind cái, jiù, dōu and yĕ. London: Routledge Curzon. 10.4324/9780203565193
    https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203565193 [Google Scholar]
  18. Hole, Daniel
    2011 The deconstruction of Chinese shìde clefts revisited. Lingua121(11). 1707–1733. 10.1016/j.lingua.2011.07.004
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lingua.2011.07.004 [Google Scholar]
  19. Huang, C.-T. James
    1982Logical relations in Chinese and the theory of grammar. Cambridge: MIT. (Doctoral dissertation.)
    [Google Scholar]
  20. Huang, Zanhui & Jiang, Yan
    2009 The function of měi in měi-NPs. InXiao, Yun (ed.), Proceedings of the 21st North American Conference on Chinese Linguistics (NACCL-21), vol.21, 304–322. Smithfield: Bryant University.
    [Google Scholar]
  21. Jiang, Jingzhong & Pan, Haihua
    2013 “Dou” de yuyi fenhe ji jieshi guize [Categorization and interpretational rules of the meanings of dou]. Zhongguo Yuwen [Studies of the Chinese Language] 2013(1). 38–50.
    [Google Scholar]
  22. Jiang, Yan
    1998 Yuyongtuiliyu “dou” de jufa/yuyitezheng [Pragmatic inference and the syntactic/semantic features of dou]. Xiandai Waiyu [Modern Foreign Languages] 1998(1). 10–24.
    [Google Scholar]
  23. 2009 Tijimoxing yu dou de yuyi kehua [Scalar model and the semantics of dou]. InCheng, Gong & Liu, Danqing (eds.), Hanyu de xingshi yu gongneng yanjiu [Formal and functional studies in Chinese], 123–132. Beijing: The Commercial Press.
    [Google Scholar]
  24. 2011 “Dou” de xingshi yuyongxue [Formal pragmatics of dou] InJiang, Yan (ed.), Zoujin xingshi yuyongxue [Approaching formal pragmatics], 432–456. Shanghai: Shanghai Educational Publishing House.
    [Google Scholar]
  25. Kay, Paul
    1990 Even. Linguistics and Philosophy13(1). 59–111. 10.1007/BF00630517
    https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00630517 [Google Scholar]
  26. Krifka, Manfred
    1992 Definite NPs aren’t quantifiers. Linguistic Inquiry23(1). 156–163.
    [Google Scholar]
  27. Ladusaw, William A.
    1980Polarity sensitivity as inherent scope relations (Outstanding dissertations in linguistics). New York: Garland.
    [Google Scholar]
  28. Landman, Fred
    1989 Groups, I. Linguistics and Philosophy12(5). 559–605. 10.1007/BF00627774
    https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00627774 [Google Scholar]
  29. Lasersohn, Peter N.
    1995Plurality, conjunction and events. Dordrecht: Kluwer. 10.1007/978‑94‑015‑8581‑1
    https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-8581-1 [Google Scholar]
  30. Lee, Thomas Hun-Tak
    1986Studies on quantification in Chinese. Los Angeles: University of California, Los Angeles. (Doctoral dissertation.)
    [Google Scholar]
  31. Lin, Jo-wang
    1996Polarity licensing and wh-phrase quantification in Chinese. Amherst: University of Massachusetts, Amherst. (Doctoral dissertation.)
    [Google Scholar]
  32. 1998 Distributivity in Chinese and its implications. Natural Language Semantics6(2). 201–243. 10.1023/A:1008299031574
    https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008299031574 [Google Scholar]
  33. Liu, Danqing & Xu, Liejiong
    1998 Jiaodian yu beijing, huati ji Hanyu “lian” ziju [Focus, background, topic and Chinese lian sentences]. Zhongguo Yuwen [Studies of the Chinese Language] 1998(4). 243–252.
    [Google Scholar]
  34. Liu, Feng-Hsi
    1990Scope dependency in English and Chinese. Los Angeles: UCLA. (Doctoral dissertation.)
    [Google Scholar]
  35. Milsark, Gary
    1977 Toward an explanation of certain peculiarities of the existential construction in English. Linguistic Analysis31. 1–29.
    [Google Scholar]
  36. Pan, Haihua
    2005 On mei and dou. (Paper presented at the2005 Annual Research Forum (ARF) of the Linguistic Society of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 10–11 December 2005.)
    [Google Scholar]
  37. 2006 Jiaodian, sanfen jiegou yu Hanyu “dou” de yuyi jieshi [Focus, tri-partite structure and the semantic interpretation of Mandarin dou]. Yufa yanjiu he tansuo [Grammatical research and exploration], vol.131, 163–184. Beijing: The Commercial Press.
    [Google Scholar]
  38. Pan, Haihua & Jiang, Yan
    1997 NP interpretation and Chinese donkey sentences. (Paper presented at theWorkshop on Interface Strategies in Chinese, Cornell University, Ithaca, 23 June–1 August 1997.)
    [Google Scholar]
  39. 2015 The bound variable hierarchy and donkey anaphora in Mandarin Chinese. International Journal of Chinese Linguistics2(2). 159–192. 10.1075/ijchl.2.2.01pan
    https://doi.org/10.1075/ijchl.2.2.01pan [Google Scholar]
  40. Pan, Haihua & Feng, Yuli
    2017 Quantification. InSybesma, Rint & (eds.), Encyclopedia of Chinese language and linguistics, 530–535. Leiden: Brill.
    [Google Scholar]
  41. Panagiotidis, Phoevos
    2000 Demonstrative determiners and operators: The case of Greek. Lingua110(10). 717–742. 10.1016/S0024‑3841(00)00014‑0
    https://doi.org/10.1016/S0024-3841(00)00014-0 [Google Scholar]
  42. Pesetsky, David
    1987 Wh-in-situ: Movement and unselective binding. InReuland, Eric & ter Meulen, Alice G. B. (eds.), The representation of (in)definiteness, 98–129. Cambridge: The MIT Press.
    [Google Scholar]
  43. Portner, Paul
    2002 Topicality and (non-)specificity in Mandarin. Journal of Semantics19(3). 275–287. 10.1093/jos/19.3.275
    https://doi.org/10.1093/jos/19.3.275 [Google Scholar]
  44. Rullmann, Hotze
    1995Maximality in the semantics of wh-constructions. Amherst: University of Massachusetts, Amherst. (Doctoral dissertation.)
    [Google Scholar]
  45. Schwarzschild, Roger
    1996Pluralities (Studies in Linguistics and Philosophy 61). Dordrecht: Kluwer. 10.1007/978‑94‑017‑2704‑4
    https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-2704-4 [Google Scholar]
  46. Strawson, Peter F.
    1950 On referring. Mind59(235). 320–344. 10.1093/mind/LIX.235.320
    https://doi.org/10.1093/mind/LIX.235.320 [Google Scholar]
  47. Szabolcsi, Anna
    2010Quantification. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 10.1017/CBO9780511781681
    https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511781681 [Google Scholar]
  48. Tsai, Wei-Tien Dylan
    1999 On lexical courtesy. Journal of East Asian Linguistics8(1). 39–73. 10.1023/A:1008354312243
    https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008354312243 [Google Scholar]
  49. Winter, Yoad
    2002 Atoms and sets: A characterization of semantic number. Linguistic Inquiry33(3). 493–505. 10.1162/002438902760168581
    https://doi.org/10.1162/002438902760168581 [Google Scholar]
  50. Wolter, Lynsey Kay
    2006That’s that: The semantics and pragmatics of demonstrative noun phrases. Santa Cruz: University of California, Santa Cruz. (Doctoral dissertation.)
    [Google Scholar]
  51. Xiang, Ming
    2008 Plurality, maximality and scalar inferences: A case study of Mandarin dou. Journal of East Asian Linguistics17(3). 227–245. (Article no. 227.) 10.1007/s10831‑008‑9025‑9
    https://doi.org/10.1007/s10831-008-9025-9 [Google Scholar]
  52. Yuan, Yulin
    2005 “Dou” de jiahexing yuyi gongneng ji qi fenpeixing xiaoying [The summative function of dou and its distributive effect]. Dangdai Yuyanxue [Contemporary Linguistics] 2005(4). 289–304.
    [Google Scholar]
  53. Zhang, Niina Ning
    1997Syntactic dependencies in Mandarin Chinese. Toronto: University of Toronto. (Doctoral dissertation.)
    [Google Scholar]
  54. 2008 Encoding exhaustivity. UST Working Papers in Linguistics41. 133–143.
    [Google Scholar]
/content/journals/10.1075/lali.00106.fen
Loading
/content/journals/10.1075/lali.00106.fen
Loading

Data & Media loading...

  • Article Type: Research Article
Keyword(s): distributivity; dou; exclusiveness; FCI; maximality; universal quantification
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