Semantic incorporation and non-canonical objects in Chinese
Non-canonical object constructions(NCOCs)in Chinese exhibit a constellation of properties,such as conventionalized meanings,weak compositionality,low discourse transparency etc.which distinguish them from canonical VPs.NCOCs pose challenges against both contemporary syntactic theory and standard formal semantics.Based on cross-linguistic data,the paper proposes that NCOCs are better treated as instances of semantic incorporation,viz.a grammatical process by which the object is backgrounded and incorporated with the verb into a sub-phrasal predicate complex.The collocation between the verb and the object is achieved via mediating functions which,like semantic glue,can"bind"two constituents that do not present a direct thematic relation together.Such mediating functions are pragmatically-regulated over a set of thematic roles,e.g.instrument,location,manner,reason,time etc.and the relatively free choice of the thematic role of NCOCs is a natural consequence of this mediating mechanism.The present account leads to three consequences:(ⅰ)it further underscores the universal value of NCOCs with a wider cross-linguistic perspective;(ⅱ)it provides a feasible formal framework at the syntax-semantics interface to deal with phrasal/sub-phrasal phenomena;(ⅲ)it offers a plausible approach to issues related to pragmatics-syntax and pragmatics-semantics interfaces.
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