Merge-based Theory of Argument Structure and a Dynamic Derivation Mechanism for Chinese V-V Resultative Constructions

Miaocai Yan; Ye Yuan

doi:10.65961/crcl-2026-0040

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Current Research in Chinese Linguistics ›› 2026, Vol. 105 ›› Issue (3) : 839-861. DOI: 10.65961/crcl-2026-0040

Merge-based Theory of Argument Structure and a Dynamic Derivation Mechanism for Chinese V-V Resultative Constructions

Miaocai Yan, Ye Yuan

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Abstract

The syntactic derivation of Chinese V-V resultative constructions is one of the central topics in the literature of generative linguistics. This paper adopts Sybesma’s (2017) inner aspect analysis for Chinese, arguing that the resultative secondary predicate (V2) is syntactically higher than the main verb (V1). Following Collins’ (2024) Merge-based Theory of Argument Structure (MTAS), this study re-examines the argument structure of Mandarin V-V resultative constructions and assumes that both the external argument and the internal argument are introduced by functional heads, i.e., v and v_IA. The construction of argument structure is constrained by Argument Criterion. Accordingly, a dynamic derivation mechanism for Chinese V-V resultatives is proposed in this paper. Under the mechanism, different variants of resultatives dynamically select appropriate argument-introducing heads (AIHs) to introduce their arguments. The V1-V2 cluster is derived by V1-to-V2 head movement, which avoids the theoretical and empirical conflicts raised in previous studies. The derivation mechanism under MTAS shows its economic and explanatory power in deriving various V-V resultative variants, including object-oriented transitive resultatives, subject-oriented transitive resultatives, and intransitive resultatives.

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V-V resultative / inner aspect / Argument Criterion / argument structure

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Miaocai Yan, Ye Yuan. Merge-based Theory of Argument Structure and a Dynamic Derivation Mechanism for Chinese V-V Resultative Constructions.Current Research in Chinese Linguistics2026 , 105(3): 839-861. https://doi.org/10.65961/crcl-2026-0040

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