A study on the type coercion of the causer of chinese causative verb-resultative construction based on the generative lexicon theory

Abstract

Based on the qualia structure and co-composition of Generative Lexicon Theory, as well as the Light Verb Theory, this paper analyzes the logical metonymy and the acceptability of an expression as a causer. We find out that the NP expression of the causer of the event in the Causative resultative construction undergoes an event coercion. Thus the NP does not represent an entity but an event, in order to adapt to the causative event schema. We also find out that the qualia unification of the NP and the VP has a great influence on the acceptance of the causer as well. This paper puts forward an unified interpretation model for the diverse sources of the causer.