Towards a lexical analysis on chinese middle constructions

Abstract

This paper aims to provide a formal analysis on Chinese middle constructions in a lexical approach. In analyzing the middle constructions, there are two prominent issues that are discussed: (1) how does the transitive complex predicate become intransitive in the middle constructions? (2) how to assign the semantic roles to the logical object and the implicit argument? To answer the first question, the study makes use of the argument composition technique to append the arguments together in HPSG (Head-driven Phrase Structure Grammar). Then this study makes use of a flat semantics analysis within the MRS (Minimal Recursive Semantics) framework to constrain the semantic relations. The analysis shows that a lexical approach can deal with the syntax-semantics interface issues of the middle constructions with complex predicates.