Focus Presupposition and the Formation of A-Not-A Questions in Chinese
焦点, 预设及正反问句的构成
Zheng-Sheng Zhang 张正生

Abstract 摘要
Previous analyses use 'focus' to explain a restriction on the formation of A-not-A questions. But 'focus' has at least two distinct senses. Both senses are empirically inadequate in explaining the restriction; and, if used indiscriminately, they would lead to theoretical incoherence. We suggest a simple principle, i.e., no questioned part can be presupposed. Apart from its empirical and theoretical superiority, the principle is independently needed for the same restriction in particle and other choice type questions, not to mention the mutual exclusiveness between questions. Apparent exceptions to the principle are due to separate syntactic constraints.

从前的一些分析以焦点来解释正反问句成句的一种限制。但焦点的概念相当含糊，至少有两种含义，哪一种都行不通，而且不分清楚还会导致理论上的混乱。本文提出一简单原则，即对预设部分不能发问。此原则不仅在理论与解释能力方面优于焦点，而且也适用于选择问句及是非问句。问句间不相容的现象也可因此得到解释。表面上的一些反例可以用其它语法原则处理。

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