Where Centering Meets Chinese Discourse by Saina Wuyun

Author:Saina Wuyun
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9789811586668
Publisher: Springer Singapore

In this structure, “bei1” is the passive marker, which functions basically in the same way as the English “BE + _en,” and “bei2” is the preposition, which introduces the agent theta role. “bei1”and “bei2” are combined via a “haplology” procedure and present as one “bei” in a passive sentence.

3.4 Centering Theory Revisited

One of the main tasks of this chapter is to utilize the theoretical framework of Centering Theory refined in Chap. 2 to study the discourse function of Chinese bei utterance. Hitherto this task has been fulfilled smoothly: I have revealed the Cb transition state patterns of discourse segments with bei utterance, and also discovered the division of labor between bei utterance and bei object in discourse. Comparisons between long and short passives are rendered with quite exciting results. Now, it is essential that we pay Centering Theory a revisit, with the aim of verifying the improved definitions that were left open in Chap. 2.

Chapter 2 redefined two essential definitions in Centering Theory, i.e., center and utterance, as listed below.

DEFINITION of center: Center is a semantic entity that has its syntactic realization in an overt form or as a pro, but not necessarily as a full NP constituent.

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