Property Theory, Adjectives, and Modification in Chinese

It has been observed that there is a complementary distribution between simple adjectives (SAs) and complex adjectives (CAs) in Chinese in both the adnominal and predicate positions (Huang, 1997, Some remarks on adjectives in Mandarin Chinese. Paper delivered at the International Association of Chinese Linguistics-6 (IACL-6), Leiden, June 19–21, 1997, The Netherlands; Shen, 1997, Zhongguo Yuwen, 259, 242–250; Zhu, 1956, Xiandai Hanyu Xingrongci Yanjiu [Studies of adjectives in modern Chinese]. Yuyan Yanjiu 1. Also published in Zhu Dexi (1980) Xiandai Hanyu Yufa Yanjiu [Grammatical studies of modern Chinese], pp. 3–41). This article makes two major claims: (a) there are two subgroups of CAs, and while one is in total complementary distribution with SAs; the other is in partial complementary distribution with SAs; And (b) the total/ partial complementary distribution noted in (a) can be explained by a property- theoretic conjunction/intersection analysis of modification structures which ensures not only type matching but also sortal matching between the modifier and modifiee. Evidence from dialectal studies (Zhu, 1993, Fangyan, 2, 81–100) is provided as strong support for this hypothesis.