%0 Journal Article
%T The Chinese <i>ba</i> as a Verb: A Constructional-Cognitive Approach
%A Ronald Fong
%J Open Journal of Modern Linguistics
%P 48-64
%@ 2164-2834
%D 2015
%I Scientific Research Publishing
%R 10.4236/ojml.2015.51005
%X Although there have
been various studies on the Chinese <i>ba</i>-construction,
this article presents some unconventional views. Most studies do not treat <i>ba</i> as a verb. This article argues that <i>ba</i> is a verb, although it has some
non-typical verbal properties. Firstly, the argument establishes that it is a
verb based upon the ¡°gradient¡± analysis, which has not been applied to <i>ba </i>before. Secondly, having been treated
as a verb, <i>ba</i> shows special
properties of its own such as marking subordination. Apart from this
non-traditional view, <i>ba</i> is shown to
be highly transitive, which is also a verbal feature. Different from previous
analyses, this article argues that <i>ba </i>is
a radial category showing various associated meanings. Finally, <i>ba</i> is shown to produce blending with
other verb complements, such as the resultative construction, through its ability
to create mental spaces.
%K &lt
%K i&gt
%K ba&lt
%K /i&gt
%K Gradience
%K Subordination
%K Radial Category
%K Mental Space
%U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=53953