"能/不能V"与"V得/不了"硏究初探 = A Pilot Study of "Neng/Bu Neng V" and "V De/Bu Liao"

Abstract

In this paper, we mainly investigate the differences and similarities of potential modal verb?neng/bu nengV?and potential verb-complement?Vde/bu liao?in usages of Modern Chinese. In Section 2, we determine that both potential modal verb?neng/bu nengV?and potential verb-complement?Vde/bu liao?have their specific meanings in respectively, and at the same time, semantic overlapping is found in these two expressions. The pattern ?Vde/bu liao?has two functions, i.e. expressing ?Vde/bu liao1?and?Vde/bu liao2?. In the former expression, ?liao?denotes ?accomplishment? . The whole sentence indicates the possibility of achieving, that is to say, whether the patient is ?fully advantaged? after the implementation of the V. In the later expression, ?liao?is emptiness. The whole sentence indicates the possibility of achieving of the V. The senses of these two expressions can be subdivided into two types, Possibility [Capability] and Possibility [Probability]. Referencing to the achievement of the previous studies of the senses of?neng?, the meaning of ?neng/bu nengV?are classified into 5 senses here, where senses 1 and 2 are further sub-divided into certain sub-senses. Details are as followings: Senses 1: Possibility [Capability], Sub-senses: 1: Living things? Capability. 1?: Endogenous Capability; 1??: Resistance of Force/Barrier Capability. 2: Non- Biological Functional Capability. Senses 2: Possibility [Probability] Sub-senses: 1: V Probability; 2: Proposition Probability; Senses 3: Possibility [Objective Condition]; Senses 4: Specialty; Senses 5: Permission. We consider that semantic overlapping is in the expression of ?neng/bu neng V?and that of ?V de/bu liao2?. With Replacement Method, we investigate the syntactic components of the related contexts and point out the ways to differentiate ?Vde/bu liao1?and?Vde/bu liao2?. Since we hold the view that there is semantic overlapping in ?nengV?and?Vde liao?, and the existence of the pattern ?neng V de liao?in real language seems to be a contradiction to this view, to clarify the phenomenon, analysis of the existence mechanism of the pattern?neng V de liao? is carried out in historical perspective. We account the existence mechanism of pattern of?neng V de liao1?for the ?normalization of abduction? which is a phenomenon of grammaticalization, whereas that of?neng V de liao2?is due to the driving force of both ?normalization of abduction? and the emptiness of ?liao?. In Section 4, with reference to Talmy?s Force Dynamics Theory , we analyze the differences and similarities of ?neng /bu neng V?and?Vde/bu liao?in their expressions of Possibility [Capability]. With Replacement Method, we analyze ?neng/bu nengV?and?Vde/bu liao? in expressing Possibility [Probability]. To sum up, when using ?neng/bu neng V? , the speaker makes expression thru the judgment of the relation of the related subject with the Possibility of achieving of the verb. When using ?Vde/bu liao?, he/she makes expression thru the judgment of the relation of the factors other than the related subject with the Possibility of achieving of the verb. This difference directly affects the possibility of substitution between the two patterns. Again, the mentioned feature of ?V de liao? further contributes to its expression of negative in rhetorical question.