Work

Partitivity and referentiality constraint: Removing incompletive potential with Mandarin -le

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: We present a formal analysis of an understudied postverbal completive marker - le in Mandarin, distinct from the perfective - le . We propose that completive - le forces strict telicity via maximal affectedness of the theme. Building on degree-based approaches, we show that - le interacts with a covert partitive operator to link event progress to both the extent of the theme and an abstract path scale. This analysis explains the marker’s unique referentiality constraints and semantic effects. The findings demonstrate that Mandarin completive markers possess distinct lexical semantics and reinforce the crosslinguistic link between object referentiality and the completion of accomplishments.

Source: Natural Language & Linguistic Theory

DOI: 10.1007/s11049-026-09725-4

Authors: Yenan Sun, Lawrence Y. L. Cheung, Jackie Yan-Ki Lai

Institutions: Chinese University of Hong Kong, City University of Hong Kong

Language: English

Topic: Syntax, Semantics, Linguistic Variation

Subfield: Language and Linguistics

Field: Arts and Humanities

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,090

Funders: University of Chicago, City University of Hong Kong, Chinese University of Hong Kong