本书是作者在博士论文的基础上修改、扩充而成的，其内容是在生成语法的框架内探讨动词短语的结构。关于动词短语的结构，出现了不少理论。作者依照Hale和Keyser以及其他许多学者(主要是持“分布式形态学”观点的生成语法学家)的理论精神，把动词分解成小的基本成分。这样，有助我们能够解释动词表现的跨语言差别。全书共分五章：第一章是导论，主要介绍理论背景；第二章是有关并合和复合的文献综述；第三章围绕并合和复合探讨跨语言的较简单的动词短语结构；第四章分析较复杂的动词短语结构；第五章是结束语。

本书在生成语法的框架内探讨动词短语的结构。全书共分五章：第一章是导论，主要介绍理论背景；第二章是有关并合(conflation)和复合(conpounding)的文献综述；第三章围绕并合和复合探讨跨语言的较简单的动词短语结构；第四章分析较复杂的动词短语结构；第五章是结束语。本书试图在以下几方面抛砖引玉：引进“分布式形态学”等西方生成语言学新理论，分析包括汉语的跨语言语料，对汉语的一些“特殊”语法现象作出非特殊解释；立足汉语语料，对国外新理论进行补充和完善；引起国内语言学界对乔姆基学派内部非乔式本人的理论的重视。

本书适合语言研究者、高校语言文学类专业师生以及语言爱好者等对语言学感兴趣的读者阅读。

1 Introduction

 1.1 Theoretical Background

1.1.1 Argument Structure: An Overview

1.1.2 A Brief Introduction to Distributed Morphology

 1.2 A Presentation of This Book's Theoretical Ideas

 1.3 Structure of This Book

2 Conflation and Compounding. An Overview

 2.1 Conflation

2.1.1 Conflation in Talmy's Lexicalization Theory

2.1.2 Conflation in Hale and Keyser's Theory

2.1.3 Conflation in Mateu's Theory

2.1.4 Conflation in McIntyre' s Theory

2.1.5 Summary of This Section

 2.2 Compounding

2.2.1 Languages Allowing or Banning Root Serialization in Verbs

2.2.2 Previous Analyses of Root Serialization in Verbs

 2.3 Conflation and Compounding in the Formation of a New Theory

3 The Interaction between Conflation and Compounding

 3.1 A Close Look at Root Compounding in Verbs

3.1.1 Overt Root Serialization

3.1.2 Overt/Covert Root Compounding in Verbs

3.1.3 Root Serialization and Root Compounding

3.1.4 Chinese Compound Verbs

3.1.5 Summary of This Section

 3.2 A Closer Look at Conflation

3.2.1 Motion Sentences

3.2.2 Deadjectival Verbs in English and Modern Chinese

3.2.3 The Nature of Conflation and Compounding

 3.3 Causer and the Direct Object Restriction

 3.4 Interpretation of Compound Verbs in Chinese Causatives

 3.5 The Absence of Post-verb Prepositions in Modern Chinese

 3.6 Summary of This Chapter

4 Conflation, Compounding, and Sentences with Complex Verb Phrases

 4.1 The Double Object Construction

4.1.1 Properties of the Double Object Construction

4.1.2 Harley's Analysis of the Double Object Construction

4.1.3 Advantages of Harley's Analysis

4.1.4 Pylkkfanen/Cuervo's Analysis of the DOC

4.1.5 Double Object Sentences in Modern Chinese

4.1.6 A New Approach

4.1.7 Summary of This Section

 4.2 Non-core Arguments in Causative and Inchoative Sentences

4.2.1 Extra Arguments in Causatives and Inchoatives

4.2.2 Previous Analyses of Sentences with Non-core Arguments

4.2.3 Problems with These Views

4.2.4 PSPO Sentences in Other Languages

4.2.5 The Structure of Sentences with Extra Arguments

4.2.6 Summary of This Section

 4.3 Location and Locatum Sentences in English and Chinese

 4.4 Conclusion

5 Concluding Remarks

Bibliography

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