Semantic difference between the two imperfective markers in Mandarin and its implication on temporal relations
汉语中未完成貌标记的语意差异及其对时序关系的启示
Jiun-Shiung Wu 吴俊雄

Abstract 摘要
This paper discusses the semantic difference between the two imperfective markers in Mandarin, the progressive marker zai and the durative marker zhe, and how their semantic difference influences temporal relations. It is argued that the progressive zai presents an event ongoing at an instant whereas the durative zhe describes a homogeneous eventuality lasting over an interval larger than an instant. The Imperfective Paradox stipulates that an event presented by zai does not have to come to an end. Therefore, the narrative time of an event presented by zai cannot be advanced. zhe can only go with homogeneous eventualities, i.e. stage-level states and activities, neither of which has a natural final endpoint to reach and therefore has no Imperfective Paradox. Though an eventuality presented by zhe does not have a natural final endpoint to reach, it can last long enough for another event to come to an end. That is, the narrative time of an eventuality presented by zhe can be advanced only when another event reaches its end during the interval over which the eventuality presented by zhe lasts. Besides, this paper also argues that by default a situation presented by zai or zhe serves as a temporal background and provides a temporal frame in which another event takes place or another eventuality holds.

本文讨论汉语进行貌标记「在」及持续貌标记「着」的语意差异，及从语意差异而来的、对时序关系的影响。本文提出，进行貌「在」为标示一个事件在某个时间点上进行，而持续貌「着」则描述一个同质的事件或状态持续了一段时间。未完成悖论预测了「在」所标示的事件并抵达其自然终点，因此，由「在」所呈献的事件的叙述时间不能被推进。「着」所描述的事件或状态必需为同质的，没有自然终点可以抵达，故与未完成悖论无关。虽然「着」所描述的事件或状态没有自然终点可以抵达，但是，可以持续一段时间而在这一段时间中可以有另一个事件抵达其自然终点。因此，只要「着」所描述的事件或状态持续够久，能让另一事件抵达其自然终点，则「着」所描述的事件或状态的叙述时间则可推进。此外，本文亦提出，在没有其它讯息相抵触的情况下，「在」和「着」所描述的事件或状态提供了一个预设的时间背景，同一篇章中的其它事件或状态则发生、持续于此一时间背景之中.

Subject Keywords 关键词

Semantics of imperfective markers in Mandarin 汉语未完成貌标记的语义 Temporal relation 时序关系 Interface between semantics and pragamatics 语义和语用的界面 Aspects 时貌

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