Linguists studying the syntactic relations of Chinese have often argued that Chinese, being a non-inflectional language, was more reliant on iconic principles than most Western languages. Since Chinese is largely dependent on the use of grammatical particles and word order, it was sought to represent conceptual mappings more directly than other languages, i.e. denoting states and events as direct reflections of human perceptions. But how iconic is Chinese really? And what are the main determinants of Chinese word order?
The aim of this paper is to investigate the influence of temporal sequence on Chinese word order. I will in particular examine the pre- and post-verbal placement of adverbials and try to display the limitations of this theory. I will furthermore demonstrate how other factors can account for word order questions not sufficiently resolved by the “Principle of Temporal Sequence”. Accordingly, I will try to show that not just one major parameter is involved in Chinese word order, but several – interacting to various degrees in different contexts. For this purpose, I have examined Chinese sample sentences taken from dictionaries, as well as Chinese language learning material and grammar books. My analysis was moreover verified by the intuitions of native speakers of Chinese and is only concerned with “Standard Chinese”, or Putonghua (PTH) – the standardized variant of Chinese as it is used on mainland China since the 1950s. Hence, I will start this analysis with a discussion of the “Principle of Temporal Sequence”, its possible means for Chinese word order and its limitations. I will then consider other influences, e.g. topicality and definiteness by examining problematic cases of word order which can otherwise not be explained thoroughly by the temporal sequence hypothesis. A brief summary will conclude this investigation, pointing to further possible determiners of Chinese word order.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. An investigation of the “Principle of Temporal Sequence”
3. Other parameters influencing Chinese word order
4. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This research paper examines the determinants of word order in Standard Chinese, focusing on whether the language is primarily driven by iconic principles, specifically the "Principle of Temporal Sequence" (PTS) as proposed by Tai (1985), or if other syntactic and pragmatic hierarchies are equally influential.
- The role and limitations of the "Principle of Temporal Sequence" in Chinese syntax.
- The impact of topicality and focus structure on word order patterns.
- The influence of the familiarity, dominance, and formal hierarchies.
- Analysis of pre-verbal and post-verbal placement of adverbials and objects.
- The distinction between specific and generic statements in Chinese grammar.
Excerpt from the Book
1. Introduction
Linguists studying the syntactic relations of Chinese have often argued that Chinese, being a non-inflectional language, was more reliant on iconic principles than most Western languages. Since Chinese is largely dependent on the use of grammatical particles (PAR) and word order, it was sought to represent conceptual mappings more directly than other languages, i.e. denoting states and events as direct reflections of human perceptions. But how iconic is Chinese really? And what are the main determinants of Chinese word order?
The aim of this paper is to investigate the influence of temporal sequence on Chinese word order, as proposed by Tai (1985). I will in particular examine the pre- and post-verbal placement of adverbials and try to display the limitations of this theory. I will furthermore demonstrate how other factors can account for word order questions not sufficiently resolved by the “Principle of Temporal Sequence”. Accordingly, I will try to show that not just one major parameter is involved in Chinese word order, but several – interacting to various degrees in different contexts.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter outlines the motivation for the study, establishing the research focus on iconic principles and the influence of the Principle of Temporal Sequence (PTS) in Standard Chinese.
2. An investigation of the “Principle of Temporal Sequence”: This section evaluates Tai’s (1985) theory by analyzing various sentence structures and adverbial placements, ultimately demonstrating the limitations of relying solely on PTS.
3. Other parameters influencing Chinese word order: This chapter introduces alternative linguistic hierarchies, such as the familiarity, dominance, and formal hierarchies, to explain word order phenomena that PTS cannot resolve.
4. Conclusion: The concluding chapter synthesizes the findings, suggesting that Chinese word order is governed by an interaction of multiple factors rather than a single linear hierarchy.
Keywords
Standard Chinese, Word Order, Principle of Temporal Sequence, Iconic Principles, Topicality, Focus Structure, Syntactic Relations, Familiarity Hierarchy, Dominance Hierarchy, Adverbial Placement, Grammar, Putonghua, Linguistics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this research?
The paper examines what determines word order in Standard Chinese, specifically questioning the extent to which iconic principles like the "Principle of Temporal Sequence" influence syntactic structure.
What are the primary thematic fields covered?
The study covers the role of temporal sequence, the influence of pragmatic factors such as topicality and focus, and various hierarchies including the familiarity, dominance, and formal hierarchies of language.
What is the core objective of the investigation?
The primary goal is to investigate Tai’s (1985) "Principle of Temporal Sequence" and identify its limitations, ultimately demonstrating that multiple interacting parameters govern Chinese word order.
Which methodology is employed in this research?
The author uses a qualitative analysis of Chinese sample sentences derived from dictionaries and grammar books, verified by the intuitions of native speakers from Northern China to minimize dialectal interference.
What key topics are addressed in the main body?
The main body treats the pre- and post-verbal placement of adverbials, resultative verb patterns, the distinction between specific and generic events, and how information structure affects the linear order of sentences.
Which keywords characterize this paper?
Central keywords include Standard Chinese, Word Order, Principle of Temporal Sequence, Iconic Principles, Topicality, Focus Structure, and Syntactic hierarchies.
How does the paper differentiate between PTS and other hierarchies?
The author argues that while PTS addresses temporal precedence, it fails to explain patterns like topic-comment structures or personal preferences, which are better accounted for by hierarchies like the familiarity hierarchy.
What conclusion does the author reach regarding Standard Chinese grammar?
The author concludes that Standard Chinese is constrained by multiple interacting principles and that an exhaustive explanation of its word order requires a "hierarchy of hierarchies" rather than one single rule.
- Quote paper
- Anja Schmidt (Author), 2004, Word Order Strategies of Standard Chinese: An Analysis in Regard to Temporal Sequence, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/30318
