On the Argument Structure of Zi-Verbs in Japanese: Reply to Tsujimura and Aikawa (1999)

Abstract

Tsujimura and Aikawa (J Assoc Teach Jpn 33: 26-43, 1999) argue that objectless zi-verbs in Japanese uniformly have the unaccusative argument structure based on two tests for unaccusativity (resultative predication and quantifier floating). In this paper, we provide new evidence against their uniform unaccusative analysis. Applying several other diagnostics for external/internal argumenthood in Japanese, we demonstrate that objectless zi-verbs instantiate a full range of argument structure configurations: (a) transitive (e. g., zi-satu-suru 'kill oneself'), (b) unaccusative (e. g., zi-kai-suru 'collapse by itself'), and (c) unergative (e. g., zi-sui-suru 'cook for oneself'). We further show that our new analysis framed in terms of the Lexical Conceptual Structure not only derives the various properties of the three types of objectless zi-verbs but also derives the different argument structural functions and meanings that the zi-morpheme is associated with in each type. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.