1887
  1. Home
  2. e-Journals
  3. Studies in Language. International Journal sponsored by the Foundation “Foundations of Language”
  4. Volume 47, Issue 2
  5. Article
Volume 47, Issue 2
  • ISSN 0378-4177
  • E-ISSN: 1569-9978
USD
Buy:$35.00 + Taxes

Abstract

Abstract

This paper addresses the development of the Chinese V O cleft construction, and how the cleft constructional network was developed in the history of Chinese. It is argued that V O clefts emerged in the 13th century which was about 300 years later than VP clefts. A key factor in their development is the use in Middle Chinese of relative clause in post-copula position. We argue that the emergence of V O clefts also involved analogization to the extant VP clefts as well as deferred equatives. Once V O clefts occurred, they were recruited into the cleft network as a subschema, resulting in the schematic network being augmented and expanded. This study is a contribution to the developing field of constructionalization by making more explicit the way how nodes are created in a constructional network and how the network is reorganized and expanded.

© John Benjamins Publishing Company
Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1075/sl.21071.zha
2022-09-06
2025-04-26

  • From This Site

    /content/journals/10.1075/sl.21071.zha
    dcterms_title,dcterms_subject,pub_keyword
    -contentType:Journal -contentType:Contributor -contentType:Concept -contentType:Institution
    10
    5
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

References

  1. Andersen, Henning
    2001 Actualization and the (uni)directionality. InHenning Andersen (ed.), Actualization: Linguistic change in progress, 225–248. Amsterdam: John Benjamins. 10.1075/cilt.219.11and
     https://doi.org/10.1075/cilt.219.11and [Google Scholar]
  2. Barðdal, Jóhanna, Elena Smirnova, Lotte Sommerer & Spike Gildea
    (eds.) 2015 Diachronic construction grammar. Amsterdam: John Benjamins. 10.1075/cal.18
     https://doi.org/10.1075/cal.18 [Google Scholar]
  3. Blom, Alied & Saskia Daalder
    1977 Syntaktische Theorie en Taalbeschrijving. Muiderberg: Coutinho.
     [Google Scholar]
  4. Bohnemeyer, Jürgen & Mary Swift
    2004 Event realization and default aspect. Linguistics and Philosophy27(3). 263–296. 10.1023/B:LING.0000023371.15460.43
     https://doi.org/10.1023/B:LING.0000023371.15460.43 [Google Scholar]
  5. Booij, Geert
    2010 Construction morphology. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
     [Google Scholar]
  6. Börjars, Kersti, Nigel Vincent & George Walkden
    2015 On constructing a theory of grammatical change. Transactions of the Philological Society113(3). 363–382. 10.1111/1467‑968X.12068
     https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-968X.12068 [Google Scholar]
  7. Bybee, Joan
    2010 Language, usage and cognition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 10.1017/CBO9780511750526
     https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511750526 [Google Scholar]
  8. Cao, Guangshun
    1999 Foben xingjijing zhong de “xu” he “zhe” [“Xu” and “zhe” in Foben xingji jing]. Zhongguo yuwen [Studies of the Chinese Language] 61. 440–444.
     [Google Scholar]
  9. Chao, Yuen-Ren
    1968[1979] Grammar of spoken Chinese. Beijing: The Commercial Press.
     [Google Scholar]
  10. Croft, William
    2001 Radical construction grammar: Syntactic theory in typological perspective. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198299554.001.0001
     https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198299554.001.0001 [Google Scholar]
  11. Declerck, Renaat
    1988 Studies on copular sentences, clefts and pseudo-clefts. Brussels: Leuven University Press. 10.1515/9783110869330
     https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110869330 [Google Scholar]
  12. De Smet, Hendrik
    2016 How gradual change progresses: The interaction between convention and innovation. Language Variation and Change28(10). 83–102. 10.1017/S0954394515000186
     https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954394515000186 [Google Scholar]
  13. Fauconnier, Gilles & Mark Turner
    2003 Polysemy and Conceptual Blending. InBrigitte Nerlich, Vimala Herman, Zazie Todd, & David Clarke (eds.), Polysemy: Flexible patterns of meaning in mind and language, 79–94. Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton. 10.1515/9783110895698.79
     https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110895698.79 [Google Scholar]
  14. Fischer, Olga
    2007 Morphosyntactic change: Functional and formal perspectives. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
     [Google Scholar]
  15. Fried, Mirjam
    2008 Constructions and constructs: Mapping a shift between predication and attribution. InAlexander Bergs & Gabriele Diewald (eds.), Constructions and language change, 47–79. Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton.
     [Google Scholar]
  16. Givón, Talmy
    1979 On understanding grammar. New York: Academic Press.
     [Google Scholar]
  17. Goldberg, Adele E.
    2006 Constructions at work: The nature of generalization in language. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
     [Google Scholar]
  18. Harris, Alice C. & Lyle Campbell
    1995 Historical syntax in cross-linguistic perspective. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 10.1017/CBO9780511620553
     https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511620553 [Google Scholar]
  19. Higgins, Francis Roger
    1979 The pseudo-cleft construction in English. New York: Garland.
     [Google Scholar]
  20. Hilpert, Martin
    2018 Three open questions in Diachronic Construction Grammar. InEvie Coussé, Peter Andersson & Joel Olofsson (eds.), Grammaticalization meets construction grammar, 21–39. Amsterdam: John Benjamins. 10.1075/cal.21.c2
     https://doi.org/10.1075/cal.21.c2 [Google Scholar]
  21. Huang, Cheng-Teh James
    1990 On be and have in Chinese. Bulletin of the Institute of History and Philology591. 43–64.
     [Google Scholar]
  22. Hüning, Matthias & Geert Booij
    2014 From compounding to derivation: The rise of derivational affixes through constructionalization. InFerdinand von Mengden & Horst Simon (eds.), Refining grammaticalization. [Special issue.]Folia Linguistica48(2). 579–604. 10.1515/flin.2014.019
     https://doi.org/10.1515/flin.2014.019 [Google Scholar]
  23. Jiang, Lansheng
    1999 Chusuoci de lingge yongfa he jiegouzhuci de deyoulai [Functions of locatives and the origin of the particle de]. Zhongguo Yuwen [Studies of the Chinese Language] 21. 83–94.
     [Google Scholar]
  24. Jin, Ping
    2017 Study on the format and semantic functions of the Chinese “(shi) VO de” and “(shi) V de O” sentences. Ishikawa: Kanazawa University PhD dissertation.
  25. Kiparsky, Paul
    2012 Grammaticalization as optimization. InDianna Jonas, John Whitman & Andrew Garrett (eds.), Grammatical change: Origins, nature, outcomes, 15–51. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
     [Google Scholar]
  26. É Kiss, Katalin
    1998 Identificational focus versus information focus. Language711. 245–273. 10.1353/lan.1998.0211
     https://doi.org/10.1353/lan.1998.0211 [Google Scholar]
  27. Lehmann, Christian
    2002 New reflections on grammaticalization and lexicalization. InIlse Wischer & Gabriele Diewald (eds.), New reflections on grammaticalization, 1–18. Amsterdam: John Benjamins. 10.1075/tsl.49.03leh
     https://doi.org/10.1075/tsl.49.03leh [Google Scholar]
  28. Li, Charles N. & Sandra A. Thompson
    1981 Mandarin Chinese: A functional reference grammar. Berkeley: University of California Press.
     [Google Scholar]
  29. Long, Hai-Ping
    2013 On the formation of Mandarin V de O focus cleft. Acta Lingusitic Hungarica601. 409–456. 10.1556/ALing.60.2013.4.2
     https://doi.org/10.1556/ALing.60.2013.4.2 [Google Scholar]
  30. Lü, Shuxiang
    1984 Lundi, de zhibian ji di zi de youlai [Study on the origins of di and de]. InShuxiang Lü (ed.), Hanyu yufa lunwen ji [Paper Collection on Chinese Grammar], 123–146. Beijing: Shangwu Yinshuguan.
     [Google Scholar]
  31. Mei, Tsu-lin
    1988 Ciwei di, de de laiyuan [The origins of the word final de and di]. Shiyusuo jikan [Bulletin of History and Philology of the Academia Sinica] 59(1). 141–172.
     [Google Scholar]
  32. Meillet, Antoine
    1958 [1912] L’évolution des formes grammaticales. InAntoine Meillet, Linguistique historique et linguistique générale, 130–148. Paris: Champion.
     [Google Scholar]
  33. Patten, Amanda L.
    2012 The English IT-cleft: A constructional account and a diachronic investigation. Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton. 10.1515/9783110279528
     https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110279528 [Google Scholar]
  34. Paul, Waltraud & John Whitman
    2008 Shi… de focus clefts in Mandarin. Linguistic Review251. 413–451. 10.1515/TLIR.2008.012
     https://doi.org/10.1515/TLIR.2008.012 [Google Scholar]
  35. Petré, Peter
    2014 Constructions and environments: Copular, passive, and related constructions in Old and Middle English. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199373390.001.0001
     https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199373390.001.0001 [Google Scholar]
  36. Sybesma, Rint, Wolfgang Behr, Yueguo Gu, Zev Handel, C.-T. James Huang, & James Myers
    (eds.) 2016 The encyclopedia of Chinese language and linguistics. Leiden: Brill.
     [Google Scholar]
  37. Shen, Jia-Xuan
    2008 Yiwei haishi Yiqing – Xi ‘Ta shi qunian sheng de nü’er’ [Moving what? On emotional movement in ‘ta shi qunian sheng de nü’er’] Zhongguo Yuwen [Studies of the Chinese Language] 51. 387–395.
     [Google Scholar]
  38. Simpson, Andrew & Xiu-Zhi Zoe Wu
    2002 From D to T: Determiner incorporation and the creation of tense. Journal of East Asian Linguistics111. 169–209. 10.1023/A:1014934915836
     https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1014934915836 [Google Scholar]
  39. Smirnova, Elena
    2015 Constructionalization and constructional change: The role of context in the development of constructions. InJóhanna Barðdal, Elena Smirnova, Lotte Sommerer, & Spike Gildea (eds.), Diachronic Construction Grammar, 81–106. Leiden: Brill. 10.1075/cal.18.03smi
     https://doi.org/10.1075/cal.18.03smi [Google Scholar]
  40. Traugott, Elizabeth & Graeme Trousdale
    2013 Constructionalization and constructional change. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199679898.001.0001
     https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199679898.001.0001 [Google Scholar]
  41. Van de Velde, Freek, Hendrik De Smet & Lobke Ghesquière
    2013 On multiple source constructions in language change. Studies in Language37(3). 473–488. 10.1075/sl.37.3.01int
     https://doi.org/10.1075/sl.37.3.01int [Google Scholar]
  42. Wang, Li
    1958 HanyushiLunwenji [Paper Collection on the History of Chinese]. Beijing: Kexue chubanshe.
     [Google Scholar]
  43. Ward, Gregory
    2004 Equatives and deferred reference. Language801. 269–289. 10.1353/lan.2004.0102
     https://doi.org/10.1353/lan.2004.0102 [Google Scholar]
  44. Weinreich, Uriel, William Labov & Marvin Herzog
    1968 Empirical foundations for a theory of language change. InWinfred P. Lehmann & Yakov Malkiel (eds.), Directions for historical linguistics, 95–189. Austin: University of Texas Press.
     [Google Scholar]
  45. Xiao, Xiao-Ping & Hai-Ping Long
    2012 Cong panduanjun qianjian kuozhan kan ‘(NP) shi SV de O’ jushi de xingcheng [On the formation of ‘(NP) shi SVde O’ sentences from the pre-item extension of copulas]. Hanyu Xuexi [Chinese Learning] 11. 25–34.
     [Google Scholar]
  46. Xu, Jie
    2001 The principle of universal grammar and Chinese grammar phenomenon. Beijing: Peking University Press.
     [Google Scholar]
  47. Xu, Liejiong
    2002 Hanyu shi huati jiegouhua yuyan ma? [Is Chinese a Topic-Structuralized Language?]. Zhongguo Yuwen [Studies of the Chinese Language] 51. 400–410.
     [Google Scholar]
  48. Yuan, Yu-Lin
    2003 Cong jiaodian lilun kan juwei de de jufa yuyi gongneng [On the syntactic and semantic function of de in the sentence final position: from a viewpoint of the modern focus theory]. Zhongguo Yuwen [Studies of the Chinese Language] 2921. 3–16.
     [Google Scholar]
  49. Zhan, Fangqiong & Elizabeth Traugott
    2015 The constructionalization of the Chinese cleft construction. Studies in Language391. 459–491. 10.1075/sl.39.2.06zha
     https://doi.org/10.1075/sl.39.2.06zha [Google Scholar]
  50. Zhan, Fangqiong & Chaofen Sun
    2013 A copula analysis of shì in the Chinese cleft construction. Language and Linguistics141. 755–788.
     [Google Scholar]
  51. Zhan, Fangqiong & Elizabeth Closs Traugott
    2019 The development of the Chinese copula shì construction: A diachronic constructional perspective. Functions of Language26(2). 139–176. 10.1075/fol.16001.zha
     https://doi.org/10.1075/fol.16001.zha [Google Scholar]
  52. Zhan, Weidong, Rui Guo & Yirong Chen
    2003 The CCL Corpus of Chinese Texts: 700 million Chinese Characters, the 11th Century B.C. – present. Available at: ccl.pku.edu.cn:8080/ccl_corpus (last access10 June 2022).
     [Google Scholar]
/content/journals/10.1075/sl.21071.zha
Loading
The development of the Chinese V de O cleft construction
Studies in Language. International Journal sponsored by the Foundation “Foundations of Language” 47, 318 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1075/sl.21071.zha
/content/journals/10.1075/sl.21071.zha
/content/journals/10.1075/sl.21071.zha
Loading

Data & Media loading...

  • Article Type: Research Article
Keyword(s): analogization; Chinese; constructionalization; neoanalysis; the V de O cleft

Most Cited

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