Abstract
This paper examines how both the result-realization and result-deviation interpretations of “V+A+le2” construction arise under the framework of degree semantics. It is argued that “V+A+le2” construction is a comparative construction and that different interpretations arise because different standards of comparation are adopted. Result-realization interpretations are seen in all instances of the construction while result-deviation interpretations can be found only in instances with open-scale adjective. Moreover, the syntactic structure plays a role in determining whether the “A” encodes a measure function or the “V+A” encodes a measure of change function in the “V+A+le2” comparative construction.
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Notes
- 1.
Measure of change function are derived from the difference function that is always associated with the minimum standard, i.e., zero value. See the discussion in Kennedy and McNally (2005).
References
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Zhang, M., Duan, W., Lin, Y. (2020). A Degree-Based Analysis of “V+A+le2” Construction. In: Su, Q., Zhan, W. (eds) From Minimal Contrast to Meaning Construct. Frontiers in Chinese Linguistics, vol 9. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-32-9240-6_7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-32-9240-6_7
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