Cover not available
Article published In:
International Journal of Chinese Linguistics
Vol. 10:1 (2023) ► pp.44–75

Wh-adjuncts in Chinese refutatory wh-sentences

| Tsinghua University
ORCID logo | Tsinghua University
The present study focuses on the refutatory wh-sentences in Chinese. The main idea is two-fold. First, contrary to the previous accounts arguing for the interrogative nature of refutatory sentences, we argue that refutatory wh-sentences exclude the interrogative force and should be distinguished from rhetorical questions accordingly. Second, we will show that all wh-words bearing the refutatory interpretation should occur as adjuncts, which are syntactically placed in the left periphery. Two subtypes of refutatory wh-adjuncts, namely, propositional refutatory wh-adjuncts and modal refutatory wh-adjuncts, are further classified in this study. The former is semantically akin to the pure negator bu, while the latter semantically relates to modality.
Keywords: refutatory wh-sentences, rhetorical questions, wh-adjuncts, negation
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Previous studies towards refutatory wh-sentences
    • 2.1Interrogative approach
    • 2.2Non-interrogative approach
    • 2.3Distribution of refutatory wh-phrases
  • 3.Refutatory wh-sentences vs. interrogative wh-questions
    • 3.1Against the interrogative approach
    • 3.2Further evidence in support of the non-interrogative approach
    • 3.3Rhetorical questions are interrogative
    • 3.4Distinguishing refutatory wh-sentences from rhetorical questions
  • 4.Syntactic properties of refutatory wh-sentences
    • 4.1 Wh-arguments vs. wh-adjuncts
      • 4.1.1Pure wh-arguments
      • 4.1.2Semi wh-arguments/wh-adjuncts
      • 4.1.3Pure wh-adjuncts
    • 4.2Two types of refutatory wh-adjuncts
      • 4.2.1A cartographic mapping of modality and negation
      • 4.2.2Propositional refutatory wh-adjuncts
      • 4.2.3Modal refutatory wh-adjuncts
      • 4.2.4The syntactic position of refutatory wh-adjuncts
  • 5.Conclusion
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • Abbreviations
  • References
Published online: 30 June 2023
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/ijchl.22005.yin
References (39)
References
Caponigro, I., & Sprouse, J. (2007). Rhetorical questions as questions. Proceedings of Sinn und Bedeutung, 111: 121–133.Google Scholar
Cheng, L.-S. L. (1991). On the typology of wh-questions. Ph.D. dissertation, MIT.
Cheung, Y.-L. (2008). The negative wh-construction. Ph.D. dissertation, UCLA.
Collins, C. (1991). Why and how come. More Papers on Wh-Movement, MIT Working Papers in Linguistics, 151: 31–45.Google Scholar
Fitzpatrick, J. (2005). The whys and how comes of presupposition and NPI licensing in questions. In J. Alderete, C.-H. Han, & A. Kochetov (Eds.), Proceedings of the 24th West Coast Conference on Formal Linguistics (pp.138–145). Cascadilla Press.Google Scholar
Giannakidou, A., & Cheng, L. L. S. (2006). (In)definiteness, polarity, and the role of wh-morphology in free choice. Journal of Semantics, 231: 135–183. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Gutierrez-Rexach, J. (1997). The semantic basis of NPI licensing in questions. Proceedings of the 8th Student Conference in Linguistics, MIT Working Papers in Linguistics, 311: 359–376.Google Scholar
Han, C. H. (2002). Interpreting interrogatives as rhetorical questions. Lingua, 1121: 201–229. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Hsieh, M. L. (2001). Form and meaning: negation and question in Chinese. Ph.D. dissertation, University of Southern California.
Hu, J. (2019). Prominence and Locality in Grammar: The Syntax and Semantics of Wh-Questions and Reflexives. Routledge. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Hua, D. (2000). On wh quantification. Ph.D. dissertation, City University of Hong Kong.
Huang, C.-T. J. (1982). Logical relation in Chinese and the theory of grammar. Ph.D. dissertation, MIT.
Huang, C.-T. J., & Ochi, M. (2004). Syntax of the hell: two types of dependencies. Proceedings-NELS, 341: 279–294.Google Scholar
Kiparsky, P., & Kiparsky, C. (1970). Fact. In M. Bierwisch & K. E. Heidolph (Eds.), Progress in Linguistics, pp. 143–173. Mouton de Gruyter. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Kiss, A. (2015). On Chinese negative wh-constructions and causal/denial-how questions. Master’s thesis, Leiden University.
Li, Y.-H. A. (1992). Indefinite wh in Mandarin Chinese. Journal of East Asian Linguistics, 11: 125–155. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Lin, J.-W. (1992). The syntax of zenmeyang ‘how’ and weishenme ‘why’ in Mandarin Chinese. Journal of East Asian Linguistics, 11: 293–331. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Liu, C.-M. L. (2022). Refutatory na-sentences in Mandarin Chinese. International Journal of Chinese Linguistics, 91: 266–303. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Liu, Y. (2001). Shiyong Xiandai Hanyu Yufa [Practical modern Chinese grammar]. Shangwu Yinshuguan [The Commercial Press].Google Scholar
Lu, Z., & Shi, D. (2022). Fanwen biaoji yu beijing minti – ‘na’ de jufa yuyi fenxi [Rhetorical marker and background proposition – The syntax and semantics of Chinese na ]. Paper presented at the Workshop on Theoretical Studies of Chinese Syntax and Semantics of Covert Negation. Shanghai: Fudan University. Nov. 5–6.
Lǚ, S. (1953). Yufa Xuexi [Study on grammar]. Zhongguo Qingnian Chubanshe [China Youth Press].Google Scholar
(1980). Xiandai Hanyu Babai Ci [Eight hundred words of modern Chinese language]. Shangwu Yinshuguan [The Commercial Press].Google Scholar
Ochi, M. (2004). How come and other adjunct wh-phrases: a cross-linguistic perspective. Language and Linguistics, 51: 29–57.Google Scholar
Pan, V. J. (2014). Deriving special questions in Mandarin Chinese: A comparative study. In J. Park & I. Lee (Eds.), Comparative Syntax: Proceedings of the 16th Seoul International Conference on Generative Grammar, pp. 349–368. The Korean Generative Grammar Circle.Google Scholar
(2015). Mandarin peripheral construals at the syntax-discourse interface. The Linguistic Review, 321: 819–868. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
(2022). Deriving head-final order in peripheral domain of Chinese. Linguistic Inquiry, 531: 121–154. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Romero, M., & Han, C. H. (2004). On negative yes/no questions. Linguistics and Philosophy, 271: 609–658. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Sadock, J. M. (1971). Queclaratives. In 7th Regional Meeting of the Chicago Linguistic Society, pp. 223–232. Chicago Linguistics Society.Google Scholar
(1974). Towards a Linguistic Theory of Speech Acts. Academic Press.Google Scholar
Shao, J. (2013). Yiwenju de jiegou leixing yu fanwenju de zhuanhua guanxi yanjiu [The conversion relationship between the structure types of interrogative sentences and rhetorical questions]. Hanyu Xuexi [Chinese Language Learning], 21: 3–10.Google Scholar
Shi, Y. (2006). Xiandai hanyu yiwen biaoji de gantan yongfa [Exclamatory usages of question devices in contemporary chinese]. Hanyu Xuebao [Chinese Linguistics], 41: 14–26.Google Scholar
Tsai, W.-T. D. (1994). On economizing A-bar dependencies, Ph.D. dissertation, MIT.
Tsai, W-T. D. (1999). The hows of why and the whys of how. UCI Working Papers in Linguistics, 51: 155–184.Google Scholar
Tsai, W.-T. D. (2015). On the topography of Chinese modals. In Ur Shlonsky (Ed.), Beyond Functional Sequence, pp. 275–294. Oxford University Press. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
van Rooy, R. (2003). Negative polarity items in questions: Strength as relevance. Journal of Semantics, 201: 239–273. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Xu, H. (1985). Shitan fanwenju yuyi xingcheng de zhu yinsu [Factors to forming the semantics of rhetorical questions]. Liaoning Daxue Xuebao [Journal of Liaoning University], 31: 66–68.Google Scholar
Xu, L. (1990). Remarks on LF movement in Chinese questions. Linguistics, 281: 355–382. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Yang, C.-Y. B. (2015). Locating wh-intervention effects at CP. In W.-T. D. Tsai (Ed.), The Cartography of Syntactic Structures 11: The Cartography of Chinese Syntax, pp. 153–186. Oxford University Press. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Zhu, D. (1982). Yufa Jiangyi [Lecture notes on grammar]. Shangwu Yinshuguan [The Commercial Press].Google Scholar