Journal of Beijing International Studies University ›› 2020, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (6): 24-43.DOI: 10.12002/j.bisu.307

• Linguistic Studies • Previous Articles     Next Articles

A Typological Approach to Relative Clauses in Languages of Common Word Order Types

Yu Xiujin1(), Wang Wei2()   

  1. 1. Shandong University of Finance and Economics, Jinan 250014, China
    2. Shanghai International Studies University, Shanghai 201620, China
  • Received:2019-08-04 Online:2020-12-30 Published:2020-12-30

主要语序类型语言中关系小句的类型学研究

于秀金1(), 王蔚2()   

  1. 1.山东财经大学外国语学院,济南 250014
    2.上海外国语大学,上海 201620
  • 作者简介:于秀金,山东财经大学外国语学院教授,硕士生导师,250014,研究方向:语言类型学。电子邮箱: yuxiujin888@163.com
    王蔚,上海外国语大学,201620,研究方向:语言类型学。电子邮箱: 736068358@qq.com

Abstract:

This paper examines the validity of Dryer’s Branching Direction Theory (BDT) and Hawkins’ Constitute Recognized Domain (CRD) in predicting and interpreting the order of relative clauses and other grammatical elements in the languages of SVO/SOV/VSO types. The analysis focuses particularly on English and Chinese. There are two primary conclusions. First, BDT cannot predict the order of relative clause and noun in English and Chinese. CRD and Early Immediate Constituents (EIC) may together account for the order of relative clauses and other grammatical elements in English, but fail to explain the order of relative clauses and other grammatical elements in Chinese and Japanese. Second, a Primary Predicate Prominence Principle is proposed to account for the order of relative clauses and other grammatical elements in languages with different word order. A predication hierarchy with the Primary Predicate Prominence Principle as its core can predict cross-linguistically that a relative clause positioned before or after the noun is correlated with VO-OV languages, while that of the adjective is uncorrelated with VO-OV languages.

Keywords: typology; Branching Direction Theory (BDT); Constitute Recognized Domain (CRD); relative clause; Primary Predicate Prominence Principle

摘要:

本文考察了Dryer的左右分枝理论和Hawkins的成分识别域理论在预测和解释SVO/SOV/VSO 3种主要语序类型语言(特别是英语和汉语)关系小句和其他语法成分组配等方面的有效性,并试图解释其动因。研究发现:(1)左右分枝理论无法预测英语和汉语中关系小句与名词的组配。成分识别域理论与直接成分尽早识别原则相结合可解释英语关系小句和其他语法成分的组配,但无法揭示汉语和日语关系小句与其他语法成分的组配。(2)主要谓语动词凸显原则可视为不同语序语言中关系小句和其他成分组配的动因,以主要谓语动词凸显原则为核心的述谓性等级可预测跨语言关系小句的位置与VO-OV语言有关,而形容词的位置则与VO-OV语言无关。

关键词: 类型学, 左右分枝理论(BDT), 成分识别域理论(CRD), 关系小句, 主要谓语动词凸显原则

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