Degrees as nominalized properties: evidence from differential verbal comparatives in Mandarin Chinese

Abstract

Whether degrees should be modeled as simple semantic primitives or ontologicallycomplex entities has been an issue in recent formal semantic research. This article aims tomake a contribution to this scholarly enterprise by investigating the Differential VerbalComparative (DVC) construction in Chinese. DVCs exhibit peculiar properties : (i)obligatory differentials, and (ii) DPs as differentials(e.g., liang ben xiaoshuo ‘two CL novel’).We propose that a degree is the entity correlate of a property that is formed on the basis of ameasure, akin to Chierchia-style kind. This new kind of degree, coupled with a differencefunction-based semantics for comparatives, correctly predicts the behaviors of DVCs whichwould otherwise remain formally inscrutable. This article’s contributions are twofold: (i) itprovides direct support for the degree-as-kind analysis by extending its empirical scope; and(ii) by combining degrees as kinds with a difference function-based semantics, it representsan improvement over the previous degree-as-kind analysis based on linear ordering.Keywords: comparatives, degrees, kinds, Mandarin Chinese, differential verbalcomparatives.

The semantics of scalar equatives in Mandarin Chinese

“…As we stated in the beginning of this paper, there are two core questions behind this phenomenon: (i) whether a case of apparent surface variability in making comparison reflects variability in grammar, and (ii) which component of grammar (if any) can a case of variability in comparison be reduced to (cf. Kennedy 2009;Luo & Xie 2018). Various proposals have been put forth, e.g., the degree abstraction parameter (Beck et al 2004;Beck et al 2009) We have shown that there may exist different strategies in making comparison of equality.…”

“…There are two driving questions behind this line of research: (i) whether a case of apparent surface variability in making comparison reflects variability in grammar, and (ii) which component of grammar (if any) can a case of variability in comparison be reduced to (cf. Luo & Xie 2018). Answers to the questions vary as different scholars entertain different proposals (see Beck (2012) and Hohaus & Bochnak (2020) for a detailed overview).…”

Degrees and grammar

“…Li's mapping-based analysis of the DVC is largely motivated by the observation that when the differential phrase in the DVC is not a measure phrase (MP), it shares properties with DP objects that purport to denote individuals. Luo & Xie (2018) take issue with this treatment, and show there are empirical observations that set non-MP differential phrases in DVC sentences apart from genuine DPs. For instance, when the differential phrase in a DVC sentence is a numeral + classifier phrase, it can be preceded by the degree-modifying "na(me)", a modifier that cannot precede a genuine DP ( 49).…”

“…In short, Luo & Xie's (2018) approach to the problem raised by DVCs under an enriched definition of degrees: degrees as kinds.…”