Categorial Feature Checking Theory And Verb Copying Constructions In Mandarin Chinese

The categorial feature checking theory (CFCT) assumes that the categorial features are the primitives of the syntactic operations and that the categorial feature checking can, instead of the EPP and Abstract Case Theory, determine the nominal argument distribution in A-position in the framework of MP. This thesis basically adopts the feature checking model to derive the verb copying constructions in Mandarin Chinese. The basic idea is that once entering the Numeration, the lexical words always start off with the categoiral feature matrix [N, V] and the functional words with [D, T, N, V], and that each category with its uninterpretable categorial feature has to enter a feature checking relation to have the uninterpretable features checked, thereby with all the features in the matrix correctly specified.In the thesis, the classification of verb copying construction is based on the type of the complement at the end of the structure. It has been demonstrated that the complement has to be merged before the object in line with Huang's thematic hierarchy for Chinese.There are four types of complements in the verb copying constructions, D/F expression, Directional/Locative Complement, Descriptive DE-clause and Resultative DE-clause. We treat D/F expressions as NPs which are defined as [+N, -V] in terms of category feature, and thus V on D/F expression selects V on the verb as its feature checker and is checked off by it. Meanwhile, N on V is checked by N on D/F expression as free rider. As for verb copying case with the second type complement, the complement is assumed to be a PP with [+D (+N), +T (+V)]. However, N on a Directional/Locative complement checks off V on the main verb as a desirable side effect of P's incorporation into the verb. Furthermore, a Descriptive complement, as an adverbial phrase, behaves in the same way with a Directional/Locative complement in that N on it checks off N on the main verb by incorporation since an adverbial phrase is considered to have the same categorial matrices with a PP. The last type is a Resultative DE-clause complement. We propose, in verb copying sentences with resultative DE-clause, that DE is a COMP heading a non-finite IP. In the system of categorial feature, C is defined [+D (+N), +T (+V)], and the non-finite C has to incorporate into V independently. Therefore, N on the main verb is again checked off as a favorable side effect of non-finite C's incorporation into the verb.The proposal we adopt here has the consequence that in each verb copying case, the uninterpretable categorial feature on the main verb is checked off by the complement. We assume that the categorial feature checking requirement of the object forces the verb to move (copy) with full categorial feature matrix [-N, +V] and to remerge to SpecVP for feature checking. As for the phonetic realization of trace of the moved verb, we propose that the verb copying process is actually a Copy+Merge movement and Chain Reduction does not occur in all cases of verb copying in accordance with LCA.The contribution of the thesis lies in three efforts: 1) it expands empirical coverage of CFCT and confirms that it can successfully derive the effect of EPP and the abstract Case theory in languages like Chinese with poor morphological system and distribute the nominal arguments in A-position ; 2) it provides a new and better syntactic analysis of verb copying constructions in Mandarin Chinese; 3) it attempts to develop the CFCT in A'-position besides A-position, such as licensing a controlled PRO in verb copying construction with Resultative DE-clause.