Adopting the generative framework (Chomsky, 1988) and the theory of argument structure (e.g. Grimshaw, 1990), the present study reexamines the Mandarin Chinese middle V-qilai constructions and argues against the previous analyses (e.g. Sung, 1994; Wang, 2005a) that V-qilai is a main predicate. First, it is proposed in the present study that the Evaluative as well as the Eventive V-qilai sentences can both be regarded as the middle constructions; that is, both [-Agent] and [+Agent] V-qilai constructions can be middle sentences. Second, comparing with Huang¡¦s (1988) analysis of the resultative constructions, it is argued in the present study that the second predicate, i.e. the modification predicate, serves as the main predicate. The present study also proposes the two different syntactic representations of the Evaluative and Eventive middle V-qilai constructions,¡@and adopts Wang (2005b) and Lin & Tang (1995) to propose that the V-qilai serves as a modal: Not only can the V-qilai predicates be classified into the raising type and the control type (cf. Wang, 2005b), but can also be classified into the Evaluative/epstemic type and the Eventive/deontic type, just as Mandarin Chinese modals (cf. Lin and Tang, 1995). Moreover, the argument structures of the modification predicates determine the syntactic representations of the V-qilai sentences: Theme-modifying predicates construe Evaluative V-qilai sentences, and Agent-modifying predicates construe Eventive V-qilai sentences. The Evaluative/epistemic middle sentences like zhe ke pingguo chi qilai hen hao chi ¡¥this apple tastes good¡¦ disallow the Agent, and the Theme NP moves from the modification clause to the matrix subject position to meet the EPP feature. Eventive/deontic middle sentences like zhe jian gongguo Zhangsan zuo qilai hen renzhen ¡¥the job, Zhangsan does it seriously¡¦, on the other hand, allow an Agent, and the Theme NP is assumed to be base-generated in situ. That is, the V-qilai in the Evaluative sentences is a raising modal, while the V-qilai in the Eventive sentences is assumed to be a control modal. The third issue concerns which types of verbs can enter into the V-qilai constructions. Similar to English middle constructions (Fagan, 1992), Chinese activity verbs and accomplishment verbs can enter into the V-qilai constructions. Lexically, qilai is unlikely to incorporate with the achievement verb complex like zhao-dao ¡¥find¡¦ or xue-hui ¡¥acquire¡¦ (cf. Sung, 1994). The semantic factor is related to the continuous or the inchoative sense of qilai; verbs with the continuous sense (activity verbs) or inchoative sense (accomplishment verbs) are more likely to enter into the V-qilai constructions.

Transitive reflexive Sätze des Deutschen lassen sich unter den Begriff des Mediums fassen. Genauso wie entsprechende Konstruktionen in anderen indoeuropäischen Sprachen sind sie auch im Deutschen mehrdeutig und erlauben eine reflexive, mediale, antikausative und inherent reflexive Interpretation. Nach einem Überblick über die für die folgende Diskussion wesentlichen syntaktischen und semantischen Eigenschaften transitiver reflexiver Sätze wird anhand der Medialkonstruktion gezeigt, daß weder lexikalische noch syntaktische Ansätze in der Lage sind, eine korrekte und einheitliche Analyse der Medialkonstruktion im speziellen und von transitiven reflexiven Sätzen im allgemeinen zu bieten. Deshalb wird für einen neuen, dritten Ansatz argumentiert: a) alle transitiven reflexiven Sätze sind syntaktisch einheitlich zu analysieren; b) vermeintliche syntaktische Unterschiede bzgl. Koordination, Fokus und Voranstellung des (Argument- und Nichtargument-) Reflexivums lassen sich semantisch ableiten; c) (schwache) Reflexivpronomen sind bzgl. ihrer morphosyntaktischen Merkmale maximal unterspezifiziert; d) im Deutschen muß zwischen strukturellen und obliquen Kasusformen unterschieden werden. (c) und (d) erlauben eine einheitliche Analyse der Mehrdeutigkeit des Reflexivpronomens in transitiven reflexiven Sätzen im Rahmen einer entsprechend modifizierten Bindungstheorie. Die in dieser Arbeit entwickelte Theorie wird abschließend auf weitere Eigenschaften der sog. Medialkonstruktion angewandt. / Crosslinguistically, transitive reflexive sentences in German can be subsumed under the notion of middle voice. Like corresponding constructions in Indo-European languages they are also ambiguous in German and yield a reflexive, middle, anticausative, and inherent reflexive interpretation. First, we give a detailed survey of the syntactic and semantic properties of transitive reflexive sentences that will be relevant in the following discussion. Second, we illustrate by means of the middle construction that lexical and syntactic theories fail to formulate a correct and unified analysis of middle formation in particular and transitive reflexive sentences in general. Therefore, we develop a different and (so far new) approach: a) all kinds of transitive reflexive sentences do not differ in syntax; b) the differences concerning coordination, focus, and fronting of the argument and non-argument reflexive are derived in semantics; c) the morphosyntactic features of (weak) reflexive pronouns are maximally underspecified d) German distinguishes between between structural and oblique case forms. (c) and (d) permit a uniform derivation of all four interpretations of the reflexive pronoun in transitive reflexive sentences. This analysis is based on a corresponding modification of the binding theory. Finally, we apply the theory developed in this book to further propertiies of the so-called middle construction.