Remark: Long‐Distance Reflexives, Blocking Effects, and the Structure of Mandarin Comparatives. (March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hsieh, I‐Ta Chris
• Is Part Of: Syntax. Volume 18:Number 1(2015:Mar.)
• Page Start: 78
• Page End: 102
• Publication Date: 2015-03
• Subjects: Grammar, Comparative and general -- Syntax -- Periodicals; 415
• DOI: 10.1111/synt.12026
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1368-0005

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="synt12026-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Drawing on data concerning the long‐distance dependency of the Mandarin bare reflexive <italic>ziji</italic> 'self' in embedded comparatives, this remark compares two types of analyses of Mandarin comparatives—the Reduction Analysis and the Direct Analysis. The discussion shows that the long‐distance dependency of <italic>ziji</italic> in an embedded comparative can be easily captured in the Reduction Analysis, where a deletion operation is involved in the derivation; however, the Direct Analysis, where the constituent size of the standard of comparison is transparent, encounters challenges when facing the same data.</p> </abstract>