Abstract
This study investigates “subject-predicate predicate sentences” (“S-P P sentences”) in modern Mandarin Chinese from a Cardiff Grammar approach with the aim of answering three main questions: (i) What is/are the functional syntactic structure(s) of the sentences to be considered in the study? (ii) What is/are the semantic motivation(s) for the structure(s)? (iii) What is/are the contextual constraints on the structure(s)? The study is guided by three basic principles: (a) language is multifunctional; (b) meaning is primary while form is the realization of meaning; and (c) different strands of meaning are realized by a single syntactic structure. Further, the study utilizes the concepts of Theme and Subject within the Cardiff Grammar in order to analyze and discuss the generally acknowledged seven types of “S-P P sentences”. The results show that only one type is truly S-P P and another type only in one sense, whereas no other types can be categorized as such. All the syntactic structures are conditioned by a different set of distinctive semantic features and contextual factors.
Acknowledgements
This study was supported by the National Social Science Fund (11BYY007) and by the National Research Centre for Foreign Language Education (MOE Key Research Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences at Universities), Beijing Foreign Studies University.
References
Berry, Margaret. 1995. Thematic options and success in writing. In Mohsen Ghadessy (ed.), Thematic development in English texts, 55–84. London: Pinter.Search in Google Scholar
Chafe, Wallace. 1976. Givenness, contrastiveness, definiteness, subjects, topics, and point of view. In Charles N. Li (ed.), Subject and topic, 25–55. New York: Academic Press.Search in Google Scholar
Chang, Hai-Xing. 2012. Hanyu zhuwei weiyu ju yanjiu gaishu [Survey of studies of Chinese subject-predicate predicate sentences]. Journal of Guizhou Normal College 1. 32–35.Search in Google Scholar
Chen, Guo-Hua & Jian-Guo Wang. 2010. Hanyu de wu biaoji fei zhuyu huat I [Unmarked non-subject topics in Chinese]. Chinese Teaching in the World 3. 310–324.Search in Google Scholar
Chen, Ping. 1996. Pragmatic interpretations of structural topics and relativization in Chinese (translated by Jiu-Jiu Xu.). Foreign Linguistics 4. 27–36.Search in Google Scholar
Chu, Chauncey. 1998. A discourse grammar of Mandarin Chinese. New York & Washington, DC: Peter Lang.Search in Google Scholar
Ding, Shu-Sheng, Shu-Xiang Lv & Rong Li. 2009[1961]. Xiandai Hanyu YufaJ ianghua [Lectures on modern Chinese grammar]. Beijing: The Commercial Press.Search in Google Scholar
Downing, Angela. 1991. An alternative approach to theme: A systemic-functional perspective. Word 42 (2). 119–143.10.1080/00437956.1991.11435835Search in Google Scholar
Fan, Xiao. 2009. Hanyu Juzi de Duo Jiaodu Yanjiu [Multi-perspective studies of Chinese sentences]. Beijing: The Commercial Press.Search in Google Scholar
Fang, Yan. 2008. A study of topical Theme in Chinese: A SFL perspective. In Jonathan J. Webster (ed.), Meaning in context, 84–114. London & New York: Continuum.Search in Google Scholar
Fawcett, Robin P. 2000. A theory of syntax for Systemic Functional Linguistics. Amsterdam & Philadelphia: John Benjamins.10.1075/cilt.206Search in Google Scholar
Fawcett, Robin P. 2008. Invitation to Systemic Functional Linguistics through the Cardiff Grammar: An extension and simplification of Halliday’s Systemic Functional Grammar. London: Equinox.Search in Google Scholar
Fawcett, Robin P. forthcoming. The many types of “Theme” in English: Their syntax, semantics and discourse functions. London: Equinox.Search in Google Scholar
Fries, Peter. 1995. Themes, method of development and texts. In Ruqaiya Hasan & Peter Fries (eds.), On subject and Theme: A discourse functional perspective, 317–359. Amsterdam & Philadelphia: John Benjamins.10.1075/cilt.118.10friSearch in Google Scholar
Givón, Talmy. 1983. Topic continuity in discourse: A quantitative cross-language study. Amsterdam & Philadelphia: John Benjamins.10.1075/tsl.3Search in Google Scholar
Gundel, Jeanette. 1985. “Shared knowledge” and topicality. Journal of Pragmatics 9. 83–107.10.1016/0378-2166(85)90049-9Search in Google Scholar
Halliday, Michael A. K. 1967. Notes on transitivity and theme in English, Part 2. Journal of Linguistics 3 (2). 199–244.10.1017/S0022226700016613Search in Google Scholar
Halliday, Michael A. K. 1985. An introduction to Functional Grammar. London: Arnold.Search in Google Scholar
Halliday, Michael A. K. 1994. An introduction to Functional Grammar, 2nd edn. London: Arnold.Search in Google Scholar
Halliday, Michael A. K. & Ruqaiya Hasan. 1976. Cohesion in English. London: Longman.Search in Google Scholar
Halliday, Michael A. K. & Christian I. M. I. Matthiessen. 2004. An introduction to Functional Grammar, 3rd edn. London: Arnold.Search in Google Scholar
Halliday, Michael A. K. & Christian I. M. I. Matthiessen. 2014. An introduction to Functional Grammar, 4th edn. London: Arnold.10.4324/9780203783771Search in Google Scholar
Halliday, Michael A. K. & Edward McDonald. 2004. Metafunctional profile of the grammar of Chinese. In Alice Caffarel, James Martin & Christian Matthiessen (eds.), Language typology: A functional perspective, 305–395. Amsterdam & Philadelphia: John Benjamins.10.1075/cilt.253.08halSearch in Google Scholar
Hasan, Ruqaiya & Peter Fries. 1995. On Subject and Theme: A discourse functional perspective. Amsterdam & Philadelphia: John Benjamins.10.1075/cilt.118Search in Google Scholar
He, Wei. 2014. “Bi-functional constituent constructions” in modern mandarin Chinese: A Cardiff Grammar approach. Language Sciences 42. 43–59.10.1016/j.langsci.2013.12.001Search in Google Scholar
He, Wei, Sheng-Wen Gao, Jiao Zhang, Pei-Pei Jia & Jing-Na Qiu. 2015. Hanyu Gongneng Jufa Fenxi [Functional syntactic analysis of Chinese]. Beijing: Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press.Search in Google Scholar
Hori, Motoko. 1995. Subjectlessness and honorifics in Japanese: A case of textural construal. In Ruqaiya Hasan & Peter Fries (eds.), On Subject and Theme: A discourse functional perspective, 151–185. Amsterdam & Philadelphia: John Benjamins.10.1075/cilt.118.06horSearch in Google Scholar
Hu, Yu-Shu. 2011. Xiandai Hanyu [Modern Chinese], 7th edn. Shanghai: Shanghai Education Press.Search in Google Scholar
Huang, Bo-Rong & Xu-Dong Liao. 1991. Xiandai Hanyu [Modern Chinese]. Beijing: Higher Education Press.Search in Google Scholar
Huang, Cheng-Teh. 1982. Logical relations in Chinese and the theory of grammar. Cambridge, MA: MIT dissertation.Search in Google Scholar
Institute of Linguistics of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (ed.). 2013. Xiandai Hanyu Cidian (Diliu Ban) [Modern Chinese dictionary], 6th edn. Beijing: The Commercial Press.Search in Google Scholar
LaPolla, Randy. 1990. Grammatical relations in Chinese: Synchronic and diachronic considerations. Berkeley: University of California Berkeley dissertaion.Search in Google Scholar
LaPolla, Randy. 1993. Arguments against “subject” and “direct object” as viable concepts in Chinese. Bulletin of the Institute of History and Philology 63. 759–812.Search in Google Scholar
Li, Audrey. 1990. Order and constituency in mandarin Chinese. Dordrecht: Kluwer.10.1007/978-94-009-1898-6Search in Google Scholar
Li, Charles & Sandra Thompson. 1976. Subject and topic: A new typology and language. In Charles Li (ed.), Subject and topic, 457–489. New York: Academic Press.Search in Google Scholar
Li, Charles & Sandra Thompson. 1981. Mandarin Chinese: A functional reference grammar. London: University of California Press.Search in Google Scholar
Li, Eden Sum-hung. 2007. A systemic functional grammar of Chinese. London & New York: Continuum.Search in Google Scholar
Li, Hui & Li-Ping Guo. 2010. Zifu hanyu zhuwei weiyu ju de hanying jufa jiegou duibi [Contrast between Chinese and English syntactic structures of subject-predicate predicate sentences in Chinese]. Journal of Henan Normal University 6. 241–243.Search in Google Scholar
Li, Lin-Ding. 1986. Xiandai Hanyu Juxing [Modern Chinese sentence patterns]. Beijing: The Commercial Press.Search in Google Scholar
Li, Ying-Zhe, Liang-Wei Zheng & Shang-Xian He. 1990. Shiyong Hanyu Cankao Yufa [Practical Chinese reference grammar] (translated by Wen-Hua Xiong). Beijing: Beijing Languages College Press.Search in Google Scholar
Liang, Xue. 2011. Mianxiang duiwai hanyu jiaoxue de zhuwei weiyu ju yanjiu [A study of subject-predicate predicate sentences in teaching Chinese as a second language]. Studies on International Chinese Transmission and Teaching 9th International Conference on Chinese Language Pedagogy. 444–460.Search in Google Scholar
Liu, Shi-Ru. 1963. Xiandai Hanyu Yufa Jiangyi [Lectures on modern Chinese grammar]. Beijing: The Commercial Press.Search in Google Scholar
Luo, Yan-ling. 2004. Shuti wei zhuwei jiegou de huati ju de yupian gongneng kaocha [Textual functions of subject-predicate predicate sentences]. Guangzhou: Jinan University dissertation.Search in Google Scholar
Lv, Shu-Xiang. 1984. Hanyu yufa fenxi went i[Problems of Chinese grammar analysis]. In Shu-Xiang Lv (ed.), Collections of papers by Shu-Xiang Lv, vol. 2, 481–571. Beijing: The Commercial Press.Search in Google Scholar
Martin, James. 1992. English text: System and structure. Amsterdam & Philadelphia: John Benjamins.10.1075/z.59Search in Google Scholar
Matthiessen, Christian I. M. I. 1995. Lexicogrammatical cartography: English systems. Tokyo: International Language.Search in Google Scholar
Rose, David. 2001. Some variations in Theme across languages. Functions of Language 8(1). 109–145.10.1075/fol.8.1.06rosSearch in Google Scholar
Shen, Jia-Xuan. 1999. Bu Duichen he Biaoji Lun [Asymmetry and markedness]. Nanchang: Jiangxi Education Press.Search in Google Scholar
Shen, Jia-Xuan. 2006. Renzhi yu Hanyu Yufa Yanjiu [Cognition and Chinese grammar studies]. Beijing: The Commercial Press.Search in Google Scholar
Shi, Ding-Xu. 2000. Topic and topic-comment constructions in Mandarin Chinese. Language 76, 383–408.10.1353/lan.2000.0070Search in Google Scholar
Shi, Yu-Zhi. 2001. Hanyu de Zhuyu yu Hauti zhi Bian [The distinction between subject and topic in Chinese]. Studies in Language and Linguistics 2, 82–91.Search in Google Scholar
Shi, Yu-Zhi. 2010. Hanyu Yufa [Chinese grammar]. Beijing: The Commercial Press.Search in Google Scholar
Tench, Paul. 1996. The intonation systems of English. London: Cassell Academic.Search in Google Scholar
Tsao, Feng-Fu. 1977. Subject and topic in Chinese. In Ting-Chi Tang, Ying-Zhe Li & Liang-Wei Zheng (eds.), Zhongguo Yuyanxue Huiyi Lunwen Ji [Proceedings of Chinese linguistics conference], 165–196. Taipei: Taiwan Students Press.Search in Google Scholar
Tsao, Feng-Fu. 1979. A functional study of topic in Chinese: The first step toward discourse analysis. Taipei: Student Book Co.Search in Google Scholar
Tsao, Feng-Fu. 2005. Hanyu de Juzi yu Ziju Jiegou (Translated by Jing Wang) [Sentence and clause structure in Chinese: A functional perspective]. Beijing: Beijing Language and Culture University Press.Search in Google Scholar
Tucker, Gordon. 1998. The lexicogrammar of adjectives: A systemic functional approach to Lexis. London: Cassell Academic.Search in Google Scholar
Wang, Hong-Lan. 1995. Zhuwei weiyu ju yanjiu zongshu [Survey of subject-predicate predicate sentences]. Language and Philology 2. 38–41.Search in Google Scholar
Wang, Li. 1943. Zhongguo Xiandai Yufa [Modern grammar of China]. Beijing: The Commercial Press.Search in Google Scholar
Xing, Xin. 1995. Zhuwei weiyu ju de fanwei [Scope of subject-predicate predicate sentences]. Language and Philology 6. 76–91.Search in Google Scholar
Xv, Lie-Jiong & Terence Langendoen. 1985. Topic structures in Chinese. Language 61. 1–27.10.2307/413419Search in Google Scholar
Xv, Lie-Jiong & Dan-Qing Liu. 1998. Huati de Jiegou he Gongneng [Structures and functions of topics]. Shanghai: Shanghai Education Press.Search in Google Scholar
Xv, Tong-Qiang. 1997. Yuyan Lun[On language]. Changchun: Northeast Normal University Press.Search in Google Scholar
Yang, De-Feng. 2012. Ye tan zhuwei weiyu ju da xiao zhuyu de huanwei [The orders of the topics and subjects in the sentences with a subject-predicate phrase as the predicate]. Studies in Language and Linguistics 1. 32–39.Search in Google Scholar
Yin, Su-Fen. 2008. Qian tan zhuwei weiyu ju de fanwei [Scope of subject-predicate predicate sentences]. Applied Linguistics 3. 37–38.Search in Google Scholar
Zhang, Bin. 2001. Xiandai Hanyu Xuci Cidian [Modern Chinese Dictionary of Function Words]. Beijing: The Commercial Press.Search in Google Scholar
Zhang, Bin. 2010. Xiandai Hanyu Miaoxie Yufa [Descriptive grammar of modern Chinese]. Beijing: The Commercial Press.Search in Google Scholar
Zhang, Wang-Xi. 1999. Hanyu Teshu Jufa de Yuyi Jiegou [Semantic patterns of special syntactic structures in Chinese]. Beijing: Beijing University of Languages and Culture Press.Search in Google Scholar
Zhao, Yuan-Ren. 1979[1968]. Hanyu Kouyu Yufa [Spoken Chinese grammar]. Beijing: The Commercial Press.Search in Google Scholar
Zhu, De-Xi. 1985. Yufa Dawen [Answers to questions concerning grammar]. Beijing: The Commercial Press.Search in Google Scholar
Zhu, De-Xi. 2011[1982]. YufaJ iangyi [Lectures on Chinese grammar]. Beijing: The Commercial Press.Search in Google Scholar
© 2017 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston