The positive morpheme in Chinese and the adjectival structure

Abstract

Chinese has a positive morpheme that has two allomorphs: a covert one and an overt one (i.e., the degree word hen). The former, behaving like a polarity item, only occurs in a predicate-accessible operator([-wh]) domain with a structure like [Op([-wh]) ... X([-wh-operator])(0) [(Deg P) ... Deg(0)[(AP) ... ]]], where the head X(0), carrying the predicate-accessible operator([-wh]) feature, not only introduces a predicate-accessible operator([-wh]) but also licenses the occurrence of a degree phrase headed by the covert positive morpheme (i.e., Deg(0)), while the latter in other contexts. Having this as basis, I propose a condition on saturating Chinese gradable adjectives through which the bifurcated use of the 'unmarked' form of Chinese gradable adjectives can be well captured. Besides, the obligatory overt realization of a covert positive morpheme occurring in a predicate-accessible operator([-wh]) domain, when the predicative adjective is substituted for by a pro-form, further implies that Chinese has an adjectival structure simpler than English. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.