Abstract This paper offers an analysis of ka41, an aspectual element in Changsha
Xiang Chinese. It is argued that this element occupies a position in the inneraspectual
structure of the clause, between the higher aspectual marker ta21 and the
lower elements expressing a lexical result (like clean in wash clean). On the basis of
its co-occurrence with various verb types, we treat ka41 as an achievement marker:
when present, it blocks any reading in which the denoted event proceeds along a
multi-point scale, allowing only the instantaneous, two-point scale reading in which
the beginning and the endpoint of the event coincide. On the basis of its syntactic
distribution we argue that the syntactic position ka41 occupies is an intermediate
aspectual projection (Asp2P) in the inner aspect domain, which is sandwiched
between the lowest inner aspectual projection dedicated to telicity and the highest
one signaling...
Show moreAbstract This paper offers an analysis of ka41, an aspectual element in Changsha
Xiang Chinese. It is argued that this element occupies a position in the inneraspectual
structure of the clause, between the higher aspectual marker ta21 and the
lower elements expressing a lexical result (like clean in wash clean). On the basis of
its co-occurrence with various verb types, we treat ka41 as an achievement marker:
when present, it blocks any reading in which the denoted event proceeds along a
multi-point scale, allowing only the instantaneous, two-point scale reading in which
the beginning and the endpoint of the event coincide. On the basis of its syntactic
distribution we argue that the syntactic position ka41 occupies is an intermediate
aspectual projection (Asp2P) in the inner aspect domain, which is sandwiched
between the lowest inner aspectual projection dedicated to telicity and the highest
one signaling perfectivity (or realization of the end point). We review the implications
of the analysis for the aspectual domain of Mandarin clauses and point out
that the intermediate inner aspectual projection (Asp2P) we introduce for Changsha
appears to be a suitable syntactic position for the structural analysis of the small set
of grammaticalized items generally known as “Phase complements” as well.
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