A Syntax-Semantics Interface Study Of Functional GEI

This thesis studies the syntactic and semantic nature of functional gei from the perspective of syntax-semantics interface. Special focus will be on the four sentence types (S1:NP1+V+gei+NP2+NP3,S2:NP1+V+NP3+gei+NP2,S3:NP1+gei+NP2+V+NP3,S4:NP1+V+NP2+ NP3) and the structure gei wo in the imperatives. Moreover, this study also discusses the passive gei and makes comparisons between gei and the passive marker bei from the syntactic and semantic aspects.Gei has many kinds of usages and it has been a hotspot in studies. This research mainly discusses three questions. In the relevant literature on gei and gei constructions, some verbs could be found in both S1 and S4 while some are not permitted to enter S4. Traditional grammar holds the opinion that the verb categories make a difference. This study observes the occurrence of gei in S1 depends on the syntactic and semantic relationship between gei and verbs. Gei is considered as a light verb, with or without a phonetic form, and it is an effective way to solve the controversy on the part-of-speech of gei. If the verb contains an overt meaning of transferring and giving, it can enter S1 and S4, and gei can be omitted in S4. Otherwise, the verb only enters into S1 and gei is obligatory to occur.This thesis also makes an analysis of the structure gei wo. The structure in S2 is called gei wo1, and in S3 it is called gei wo21. In view of the similarities between S3 and the imperatives, gei wo in the imperatives is called gei wo22.Gei wo1 locates in the prepositional position introducing the recipient wo (me). Gei wo21 has complex semantic meaning, and it is not the research point. In this study, Gei wo22 is treated as the VP adjunct to emphasize the mood. Through the analysis, this study finds elements before and after gei as well as the construction meaning has influence on the syntactic and semantic nature of gei.This thesis also discusses the passive gei and makes a comparison with passive marker bei. Though the analyses from the perspective of syntax-semantics interface, the passive gei and bei have differences. Although gei and bei are treated as light verbs, bei locates in the upper light verb with strong features and gei in the lower position. Passive gei as a light verb has a feature of detranstivization and reduce the transitivity of the verb. The study also shows that the syntactic relationship of three light verb bei, ba and gei. Bei locates in the upper position, ba in the middle and gei in the lower position.The syntax-semantics study of functional gei is helpful to comprehend the syntactical and semantic feature of gei. Especially, gei as a light verb avoids the controversy on its part-of-speech.